How are you keeping your tween and teen safe from new online risks occurring during COVID?
The internet is FULL of online scams and illegal activity right now. Parents and children should be aware scammers are adapting existing technology to play on people’s fears around coronavirus and selling products claiming to prevent or cure the virus.
Are you aware of the red flags?
Is your child aware of the red flags?
Here are some of the latest scams targeting young people:
Online shopping scams
Online shopping scamsare the most common scams, targeting young people. Teens are online and buying more than ever. Here are some red flags that they need to avoid:
Avoid sites that offer free videogames or gift cards. These offers are not located in the product’s authentic site. Your child puts their details in to claim. The scammer sell their personal information or it will download a virus onto their device, that they will remove only once you have paid them.
Avoid sites that don’t allow usual payment options but instead get your child to pay via a bank transfer or gift card before they send the product. And of course, they never send the product.
Delete delivery scam texts. Textscams saying a $2 payment is needed on parcel ready to be delivered. The includes a link to click. The link is a trap to get access to the phone and/or your child’s personal information. Reputable businesses like Australia Post don’t send texts asking for personal information, financial information or a payment.Buy only from reputable sites and sellers that they have previously bought from. Ensure the site URL has a padlock in the address bar, which shows the site is secure.
Scam sites
Use videogame chat with caution. Scammers target children who play online video games, by offering unlocked achievements or special items in exchange for money or gift card codes without ever transferring the item.
Zoom, the video-conferencing platform has become the target of organised trolling. The New York Times found 153 Instagram accounts, dozens of Twitter accounts and private chats, and 4Chan message boards where so-called “Zoom Raiders” were sharing meeting passwords and planning harassment. Ensure all zoom meetings haveScams on TikTok: Facebook and Instagram were the most common platforms for reports and losses by those under 25, with typical scams on these platforms involving fake online stores or the sale of fake tickets to events. Scams are now increasingly found on TikTok. These include fake accounts.
Manually set new app downloads to private.Most new apps automatically download to a public setting. This means that anytime can contact you via the app. Every time you download a new app, go into the privacy settings and set it to private. This will allow only who you choose to contact you via the app.
Important to note: By targeting children, scammers could obtain personal and banking information about parents. Very important right now to ensure that children do not share personal or banking details online, and if they think a scammer has gained access to their personal information contact your financial institution as soon as possible.
