Children learn how to recognize and avoid scams

Children learn how to recognize and avoid scams

Scams are on the rise and one of the most vulnerable groups to target is children. Unfortunately, parents are hearing more and more stories about how scammers have hacked into children’s accounts, and a lot of that has to do with how sophisticated scammers have become. In this new digital age, parents need to be vigilant and educate their children about social media platforms and how to stay safe from strangers. And now we can all add scammers to the mix. We are going explains how to teach children how to be aware of online scams and gives some tips on how we can all avoid scams, including children and parents.

Types of Scams and What Kids Need to Know

Let’s start at the beginning: what is a scam or con artist? Let your children know that scams are essentially just ways to steal money or personal information from you. These things should never be given to strangers or strange sites, such as sites that are not reputable or trustworthy, or that ask for personal information without good reason. This brings us to our next point: educating children about the types of scams that exist today.

Online scams

Most, if not all, children regularly scroll online on social media platforms and can quickly come into contact with a scammer or a scam at any given moment. Parents should be aware of and educate their children about three online scams: phishing, fake websites, and fake online offers.

Phishing

Cloudflare defines phishing as “an attempt to steal sensitive information, usually in the form of usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details, or other important data, in order to use or sell the stolen information.“This can take the form of direct messages with fake or suspicious links, accounts claiming to be representatives of a particular site you are using, or emails claiming to want to “help” users recover accounts or assist with online orders. If it seems suspicious, it probably is.

Fake websites

Unfortunately, fake websites are becoming more and more common. These sites imitate popular shopping sites but are Actually designed to steal your credit card information. They often look very similar to the sites they are trying to emulate and can even appear at the top of a Google search. We recommend that you make sure that the web address is correct. Although they often look very similar a real one When browsing this website, you can avoid being scammed by checking the name for any spelling errors or characters that don’t belong there.

Fake online offers

Fake offers online often sound too good to be true, and while they are easy to spot as an adult, children can see the words “free” or “discount” and quickly give up their information. Again, these offers often look like a website or a small store, but they are simply a ploy to get your child’s information.

Telephone fraud

Beware of telephone fraud, this is a Ordinary method of stealing information. Scammers can call and pretend to be someone important, and if they keep you on the line long enough, they can important information. Nowadays, scammers call and send text messages with fake links or pretend to be politicians or people you know to get important information or your money.

Personal fraud

Beware of scams that approach you personally. This can be done by people who come to you directly to ask for money or who pose as salespeople and try to sell counterfeit products.

Unfortunately, there are so many ways people can become victims of theft these days. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out everything that is possible. But by talking to your family about what theft can look like, everyone can be more aware and alert in the future.

If you would like additional information about other potential risks that may exist, we recommend watching this video on the 10 Common Internet Scams and How to Avoid Them posted by macmost.com. This video shares a lot of great information about potential scams that can affect children and adults today.

Recognizing a scam and next steps

So, what’s the best way for kids or anyone to spot a scam? largest Red flag is when scammers create a sense of urgency. If someone contacts your family claiming there is a problem or a price, pressuring you to act immediately, telling you to pay in specific ways, let your children know that it is best not to respond or communicate with them as they are likely scammers. Let your children know that they should come to you or tell an adult what is happening so that the appropriate next steps can be taken.

If your children are at risk of being scammed on social media, it is important to know how to report these scams on the platforms where they occur. Each social media platform has its own own reporting system, usually found in the settings or help sections. By reporting these scams, you can help others avoid falling victim to the same tactics.

All fraudulent practices can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission through to report fraud.ftc.gov. Parents can report a scam, a business, or unwanted phone calls to the FTC. They will then investigate how you can protect yourself and your family, and then share your report with law enforcement partners who will help investigate further.

Tips to avoid scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers valuable information for families dealing with various online scams. They recommend blocking unwanted calls and filtering text messages, avoiding sharing personal or financial information in response to unexpected requests, and being cautious with emails or text messages from companies.

They also advise not to click on suspicious links, resist pressure to act immediately, and be careful with payment methods. The FTC also encourages people to talk to someone they trust in the event of a potential scam.

The biggest tip we can give is to start a dialogue with your children about the risks of online scams. They are unfortunately a new normal, and the best thing families can do is to educate themselves and remain vigilant.

Psst… check out our guide for parents and families on how to stay safe online.