(Inside Edition)– Law enforcement officials are warning against a new viral challenge that may be behind at least one child’s apparent suicide, according to reports.
A 12-year-old girl took her own life in her family’s backyard in Ingeniero Maschwitz, an Argentinian town less than 30 miles from Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Times reported.
Investigators are probing whether the girl was motivated to kill herself by the so-called Momo Game, a WhatsApp-based challenge that apparently originated in Japan.
“Momo” will call and message the user, eventually harassing them and demanding they harm themselves, or end their lives.
The communication escalates into challenges, which involve harming oneself, he said.
The 12-year-old reportedly filmed herself on her phone prior to her death. Investigators suspect someone may have encouraged her to take her own life, the Buenos Aires Times reported.
Police are looking to speak with a person believed to be 18 years old who the girl may have met through social media, according to local newspaper Diario Popular.
WhatsApp said in a statement to InsideEdition.com: "WhatsApp cares deeply about the safety of our users. It’s easy to block any phone number and we encourage users to report problematic messages to us so we can take action."
