Past studies have shown that young people join gangs because of poverty and a lack of positive role models, but now experts say there's a new threat -- and its affecting more kids than ever.

Theresa Campbell of the Surrey Safe Schools program says youth are falling for the "big con:" namely, what they see as the glamorous lifestyle of gangsters.

"All you have to do is look at the number one selling video games right now that glorify the gang lifestyle," Campbell said.

"Grand Theft Auto is a classic example where you get better points the more people you kill, the more drugs you sell, the more gangs you belong to and the hierarchy in the gang."

Then there is an image of easy money, good times and glamour, seen in music videos or movies.

Youth worker Rob Rai says even television news coverage can promote the gangster lifestyle.

"They take that snapshot and say 'wow that looks glamorous, that guy looks good,'" Rai said.

"But they don't see the number of times that guy's house has been shot up, what they put their family through - how many times they've been to prison."

Vancouver mother Andria Teather's son was only 22 when he was killed in a gangland style execution in an Alberta parking lot last year.

"They came across him in the building with the motor running," Teather said. "It was my son and a dog that happened to be with him and they killed both of them."

She says Allan, who she was always close to, grew distant when he got involved with gangs in Calgary, where he lived to attend college.

When he did call, he was in crisis.

"I picked up the phone and he sobbing uncontrollably. He was incredibly depressed," Teather said.

"[He] wouldn't tell me why. I had a really distinct impression that he was scared and looking for help."

Allan's murder is still unsolved, and Andria struggles to discover what lead up to his death.

"The detectives told us, if you think he was a gang member he wasn't -- but clearly he was associating with some very dangerous people," Andria said.

Andria says her son was a raised in a loving, supportive family, and she warns that even kids with a strong support system can get into dangerous waters.

"He was a great kid, a kid that got a lot of love and he was a great character, and had a great sense of humour," Teather said.

With 36 young people killed in B.C. alone this year in connection with gang activity, educators have a message they want youth who think gangsters are glamorous to hear.

"It's not true," Rai said. "That image, those pieces you see on TV with quick money and quick women and fast stature and reputation is just not true."

Andria Teather has her own message. She wants the public to know that behind every news story about a gang related death, there is a son or daughter lost. And regardless of any bad choices that may have lead up to their death, it is a tragedy that society should not accept.

"Five days after he died all of his friends kept telling me what a great guy he was," she said.

"His last words to me were 'I love you mom.' I can be thankful for that."

Teather is joining a number of gang experts at an upcoming training symposium called 'Youth, Gangs and Guns' on May 22.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy

Watch CTV News at Six on Wednesday for the third installment of Gang Related. We'll tell you about some hard hitting new programs throughout Metro Vancouver that are designed to keep our children and youth safe from gangs.