Children, just like adults, can be the target of online scams. However, children can be particularly vulnerable because they’re likely to have less knowledge of what a scam looks like.
Why we need to explain scams to children
Stopping children from going online or using their phones won’t protect them from scams in the long term. They need to learn about the risks and build up their knowledge, so that when they’re adults, and handling larger amounts of money, they’ll have a good understanding of what a scam looks like and how to avoid one.
The key to teaching children is to learn about online scams yourself so you can show them what to look out for and get a better understanding of how to protect them.
Protecting children from scams
Show them how to avoid scams
There’s lots you can do to protect your child from online scams. You can teach them to:
- create strong passwords and have them share these with you
- never share their personal details with anyone else or on websites
- only use well-known apps, websites and games – watch out for fakes
- be cautious about opening links, especially if they’re from someone they’ve never met
- if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is – and could be a scam
- show you messages that are asking them for money – as these are likely to be scams.
You can also make sure the technology you’re using is safer by setting parental controls on their mobile phone and any devices that are connected to the internet. Explain to your children why you’re doing this so they can understand the risks. It’s also a good idea to keep your passwords safe from your children so they can’t override the parental controls.
In-app purchases
In-app or in-game purchases let you buy products or services from inside a game or app. This could be part of the game, for example, a new ‘skin’, ‘weapon’ or ‘dance’.
Without any protection in place, your child can buy these using your card details. These purchases can be made through services that store your card details, such as, Google Play, iTunes, or Apple Store. Because you can pay using stored card details, your child might not even see this as a payment, and you might not be aware it’s happening.
Managing purchases
There are many ways you can make sure your child only buys what you’ve agreed to.
These include:
- downloading apps together — so you can check how any in-app purchases can be made
- password-protecting your child’s phone for purchases so you can decide what they buy
- not sharing these passwords with your child and not using the ‘Remember me’ button
- checking their purchase history regularly
- setting rules about which websites, apps, and games they can use
- using parental controls to stop them accessing sites that aren’t suitable for their age
- explaining the risk of gambling to older children – that it’s for adults over 18 and that gambling sites are always the winners, not the players.
Catfishing
Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone else online. Children fall for this scam, like adults, and can be tricked into giving away their parents’ bank details or account log ins.
Having an honest conversation with your child about how some adults pretend to be someone else online to get money will help them to spot these scams. You can also ask them to tell you if anyone they've met online are in trouble, such as needing money, as you'll be able to help.
Protecting children from identify theft
Identity theft can happen to children as well as adults. If children are giving away their personal details, such as their name, date of birth and address, this could potentially be used to open bank accounts. This could influence their future credit reports.
You can help your child avoid identity theft by telling them never to share their personal details with anyone or use their personal details to log on or to access a website or a game.
You can also look out for signs that your child’s identity has been stolen such as:
receiving bank statements, credit card statements, offers of credit or bills addressed to your child
finding out your child has a poor credit history when you try and open a bank account for them
If you know or suspect that your child’s identity has been stolen, you can report it to Action FraudOpens in a new window the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
Keeping your child safe online
You can find out more about keeping your child safe online at the NSPCCOpens in a new window