While email scams are alive and well, the explosion of social media has brought new ways of tricking people out of their money or personal information. Some are so inventive and convincing that even the most tech-savvy adults can fall for them.
As it’s children who are often targeted by scammers, especially on social media, it’s important that we teach them how to identify – and avoid falling for – online scams.
Why might kids be susceptible to online scams?
However, their digital literacy does not protect them from internet fraud, and scammers are increasingly targeting the youngest generations for several reasons.
Unlike adults, children are unlikely to have had experiences with scams and tend to be more trusting of others – especially those posing as authority figures, friends, or family. Children are also more likely to overlook or ignore signs of a scam when promised something they want. They might not fully realize the dangers of revealing personal data either.
But it’s the rise in social media use that has put young people squarely in a scammer’s line of fire.
Social media: a “golden goose” for scammers
Instagram and other social media platforms are attractive to scammers because they allow them to create a fake persona, or hack into someone’s profile and pretend to be them. Crafty scammers can even tailor their schemes based on an individual’s interests and the kind of content they post.
A scammer might not necessarily slide into your DMs either. The most frequently reported scam in the first half of 2023 was from people paying for goods advertised on social media only for them never to show up. The marketing tools offered by social media platforms make it easy, and cheap, for scammers to create bogus advertisements and target victims based on personal details, like age, interests, and past purchases.
With children worldwide spending more time than ever on social media – our 2023 data report showed that they spent 112 minutes, 74 minutes, and 63 minutes daily on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram respectively – it’s inevitable that they’ll encounter a scam at some point.
How to help your child spot and avoid online scams
We can’t always be around to protect our children, especially in cyberspace. But, by teaching them how to identify and avoid online scams, you can empower them to navigate their online world safely.
1. Stay calm
Establishing a calm environment where your child feels listened to will allow them to open up about what’s happening in their online life.
If your child tells you about a scam they may have seen or even fallen for, try not to get angry as this may put them off from coming to you again. Before getting the facts, assure them that they’ve done nothing wrong and they made the right decision in coming to you.
2. Stress the importance of privacy
Scammers often take advantage of a child’s naivety when it comes to sharing personal information. A child might think nothing of revealing their full name, date of birth, or address to someone they’ve met on social media or while gaming.
While this kind of getting-to-know-you details might not seem as risky as divulging passwords, fraudsters can use a child’s personal information to open online accounts, apply for credit cards and loans, and much more.
3. Get familiar with common scams
Before you talk about the signs of a scam, it’s a good idea to go over the typical methods and schemes used by swindlers.
Scams can come in countless forms, but here are a few common ones:
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- Shopping scams. A scammer takes your money and you receive a faulty product or nothing at all.
- “You’re a winner!” scams. You receive an email, text, or DM telling you you’ve won a prize in some competition or lottery you never entered.
- Dating and romance scams. A fraudster tries to exploit your emotions and get close to you before they ask you for money or your personal details.
- Account details scams. An example of “phishing”. Scammers send emails or SMS that appear to be from your bank or another online service, and ask you to verify your details on a fake version of their website.
- Impersonation scams. A scammer creates a fake social media account pretending to be someone you know or a celebrity you admire to gain your trust, before asking you for personal details or money.
Technological advancements like AI mean that scams will only get more creative and convincing – so it’s a good idea to stay updated on scam trends.
4. Prepare a checklist of red flags
Although more sophisticated scams can be hard to spot, things like spelling errors and bad grammar can instantly give away a fraudulent email or message.
Help your child recognize scams by creating a checklist together of other typical signs that they can refer to. Be sure to include:
- Requests for login details and passwords
- Too-good-to-be-true promises of rewards or prizes
- “Emergencies” and demands to act urgently
- Requests for money upfront
- Email addresses that don’t match “from” names
- DMs from social media accounts with few followers and little activity
5. Read the platform’s policies on scams
The popular social media platforms will have advice for avoiding and reporting a scam, and it’s worth both of you familiarizing yourselves with the guidelines.
For example, Facebook and Instagram’s help centers give plenty of tips and tools to help protect you from scammers and advice on what to do if you’ve been targeted.
6. Stay in the know
Many families choose to use a parental control app like Qustodio to ensure they’re in the loop when a scammer tries to contact their children.
By using Qustodio, you can help minimize the risk of online scams by monitoring your child’s browsing history, social media use, and even calls and messages. You can also reduce your child’s exposure to online scams by setting screen time limits and blocking problematic apps and contacts.
Teaching your child to identify and avoid scams is an excellent way to build their confidence and protect their digital wellbeing. These tips can help safeguard your child from scams and other online threats while promoting a healthy relationship with technology.
