Quick things to know about preventing online scams
To prevent children from falling victim to online scams, it’s important to build the right skills. Developing their media literacy and digital resilience are key here.
Developing media literacy and digital resilience is done in various ways. There are a range of games and tools to help children learn. Additionally, using real-world examples, exploring safety tools together and having regular conversations are key.
When it comes to talking about online scams, use the following conversations as a guide:
- What would you do if… conversations;
- Comparisons to similar offline scenarios;
- Questioning when things look ‘too good to be true’;
- What the positive steps to take look like.
Find conversation starters and specific examples below.
We’ve created age guidance, which you can view below. They use the 3 Rs of online scams to teach children ways to stay safe.
- Recognise: Tips to help children recognise the signs of scams and potential harm.
- React: Advice on what children should do if they see a scam or something suspicious.
- Resolve: Guidance on taking action if your child is the victim of a scam.
- What skills do children need to prevent scams?
- How to arm children with the right skills
- Conversations to have
- Advice by age: Recognise, React, Resolve
What skills do children need to prevent scams?
Both adults and children are at risk of becoming targets of scammers online. However, children’s trusting nature can put them at greater risk of certain scams. So, it’s important to develop the skills they need to navigate these risks.
Media literacy and critical thinking
Critical thinking, or media literacy, is the ability assess information and consider whether it’s true. This is a key skill for preventing online scams because it can help children stop and think if someone is targeting them. It can also help them recognise when it’s time to get help or fact-check information.
Being sceptical of things they come across and understanding when to ask for help can help children protect themselves as well.
Teach kids to recognise phishing and scams
Most of the stuff you find on the web is good and can be useful. But just as in the offline world, you also need to watch out for the occasional bandit. In the offline world, if a stranger offered you some candy, you’d know better than to take it. The same principle applies online. If someone offers you a discount coupon, asks you to take a survey to win a free smartphone, or tells you that you won a trip to Hawaii, you should be suspicious of the content and the intention behind it.
Social engineering is a technical term for content that tricks you into revealing personal information, like your login details or credit card number. Social engineering attacks can happen over email, ads, or web pages. Some attacks can be pretty easy to spot. Remember the rich prince who wanted to transfer millions of dollars to your account? But others can be sophisticated and pretty convincing.
So let’s talk about some steps you can take to avoid online scams. One of the most common ways to trick users is through email. Social engineering emails look like they’re from a legitimate source. But they’re not. For example, an email may claim to be from a bank and say that your banking account has been compromised and that you must quickly email them your password to avoid having the money stolen. It’s important to remember never send personal information over email unless you’re absolutely sure who you’re sending it to.
The attackers will use every trick in the book to make you believe that the address in an email is legitimate, faking the from address to make it look like it’s from someone you know. So don’t use the reply address in the message unless you are sure who the sender is. And don’t click on links in the email. Instead, open a new window and type in the official website of the bank or company in question and find the contact address.
Social engineering can also happen when you visit a web page. Scammers will generate a sense of urgency and create websites that look similar to sites that you already use. That’s why when visiting a web page, pay close attention to the page’s URL because attackers will often make this URL look similar to that of a genuine site. Before you enter any personal information on a web page, check the URL to make sure it starts with HTTPS and is preceded by a locked padlock icon.
Other types of scams can trick you into downloading malware or unwanted software that may harm your device or steal your personal information. A website or an ad cannot detect if your machine is compromised. If you see a message while browsing saying that your computer is infected and asking you to download software, you should be suspicious. Remember to always download software from reputable sources.
Now you know what social engineering is, as well as steps you can take to avoid online scams. And remember, if something looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
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Digital resilience
Digital resilience refers to children’s understanding of how the online space works, and how they can protect themselves. This skill is important in helping children recognise what scams look like and what to do if they’re targeted.
How to arm children with the right skills
Take time to play games or explore real-world examples of scams to help children understand the signs. Our Find the Fake quiz can help children learn to assess information. Other helpful games and activities include:
Using stories in the news or phishing scams that have targeted you can help too.
Develop their digital literacy by reviewing the tools they can use to keep themselves safe. Explore these tools within their favourite platforms as well as more generally. Key tools to focus on include:
- Built-in reporting functions;
- Blocking, muting and/or restricting tools;
- The difference between reporting/blocking users and content;
- Features that can ‘hide’ content from your child’s feed or dashboard.
Talking about scams, including what they look like, can help prevent children from becoming victims. From talking about phishing to more harmful scams like sextortion, awareness can help kids stay safe while also giving them the tools to protect themselves.
Conversations to have
Use scenarios to discuss actions children can take to protect themselves from scams online.
- Imagine someone promises you a rare in-game item. They need to login to your account to give it to you though. What is the best thing to do?
- Imagine you’re about to checkout in an online shop you’ve never bought from before. What could you do to stay safe?
- Imagine someone calls or texts you from an unfamiliar number, claiming to be a friend or family member. They’re in trouble and need help. What can you do to stay safe?
Sometimes it can be more helpful to using distancing techniques. So, instead of saying “imagine you are in this situation,” say “imagine someone was in this situation.” Considering what advice they would give someone else can make it easier to think of ideas.
Use examples that teach children about the phrase ‘too good to be true’. Something that is too good to be true is something that offers a lot of benefits for them without needing to do much. Some examples you can share with them are:
- Someone claims to be from TikTok. They offer you £300 per day to post videos on the platform about your favourite game. All you have to do is click the link.
- You’ve won! The UK government is giving all citizens £200. Make your claim at [link].
- Get 100 Robux for FREE! All you need to do is login here: [link].
These are often phishing scams that rely on users clicking on links. This can then lead to targets sharing personal information without realising the risk.
Use examples of offline situations that are similar to online risks. For example:
- Offline: If a stranger asked you to get into their van, would you do it? Online: If a stranger asked you to click an unknown link, would you do it?
- Offline: If you were at the park and stranger started asking you for your address, would you give it to them? Online: If a stranger in a game asked you where you lived (or other personal information), would you give it to them?
- Offline: If you were walking outside and a leaflet for free cash hit you in the face, would you call the number listed? Online: If an in-game ad offered free Robux, would you click the link?
In most cases, children will know the safe action to take offline. However, they can sometimes struggle to make the equivalent choice online. So, starting with an offline example and then comparing it to online actions can help them understand the risk.
Along with examples, talk about the positive steps they can take if they suspect a scam.
Explore the following questions with your child to get them to consider the available safety options. You can explore the answers as well to support them.
- Why could reporting the user help? The platform moderators can review the user and block them if they’re causing harm.
- How does blocking users help? It can keep the person from contacting you again.
- Why could changing your password help? If someone has gained access to your account, changing your password will keep them from logging in again.
- How could making your profile private help? It makes it harder for scammers to find information about you that they can then use to make their scam more believable.
- Why is telling a parent, carer or other trusted adult important? They can help you talk through your feelings and reassure you. If you are scammed, they can also help protect your information with appropriate steps.
Advice by age: Recognise, React, Resolve
More about online scams
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