Friend Verifier App scans Facebook friends for sex offenders

How well do your children know their Facebook friends?

“It seems now kids want to see how many friends and likes they can have and not caring what the background is to it,” said Stacey Winn of Moreno Valley.

But as their social networks grow, so do their chances of attracting an online predator.

“You have to let them know that they have to be careful,” said Evelinda Castro of Rancho Mirage, who says her grandchildren use Facebook frequently.

Now, there’s an app promising to track down convicted sex offenders on your Facebook.

You can find it by simply typing in “Friend Verifier App” in your Facebook search window. Then, hit “Scan Friends” or even “Scan Friend Requests.”

Any name that pops up in a yellow banner matches the name of a registered sex offender.

An orange banner means the names and location match.

A red banner is what you really want to watch out for: it signifies the name, location and date of birth matching a registered sex offender.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Castro said. “It’s good protection for your children.”

“I’m going to use it to check my daughter’s Facebook,” said Rosa Salazar of Desert Hot Springs.

You can click on any color banner for more information on the match, including mug shots and the sexual offense.

Parents say it’s an easy way to make sure their kids don’t connect with the wrong people online.

“We need to protect our daughters, sisters, mothers, because it’s someone behind a screen that you don’t know,” Winn said.