Published August 12, 2024 • 5 Min Read
Young people today have grown up with smartphones. Digital natives, they have been brought up in the age of technology and therefore have a certain level of digital savviness. They can navigate apps and social media platforms with ease and connect with people from around the world in minutes.
Young people, however, are also generally more trusting. They want to maximize their connections and may not have the experience to spot misinformation. As such, they are particularly vulnerable to cyber scams and, while they may disagree, still have a lot to learn about cyber security.
One of the ways to keep young people safe online is to be aware of the top scams affecting kids and youth – and to raise their awareness of the risks and dangers out there.
Here are five common scams that affect kids and youth today:
Fake contests
Online contests and lotteries are a common trap for young people which require high fees or considerable personal information as the cost of entry. In some cases, there is a fee to collect the “prize” – believing they have won something big, kids may find ways to pay whatever it takes to claim their winnings.
Online shopping
Young people love to shop online and when they see a deal that seems too good to be true, it’s hard to resist. You may have seen it for yourself – an iPad for a low price or an impossible-to-find pair of sneakers that is only available for a limited time. When the item is paid for using a credit card and shipping information is provided (including name, address, email address, phone number), a hacker can gain a great deal of data in one foul swoop.
Online quizzes
Social media quizzes might seem fun and harmless, but they are often used to harvest children’s personal data. Quizzes might ask for information such as birthdays, pets’ names, street names, favorite shows, or the names of their best friend. This kind of information is often used to guess passwords or answers to security questions which can be leveraged to gain access toother accounts.
Phishing and smishing scams
People of all ages can fall victim to phishing and smishing scams, where scammers try to steal personal information via links sent through email or text message. When they target young people, these scams will prey on their vulnerabilities – whether it’s an offer for a free video game or a text saying their streaming password has expired, these scams are believable and enticing for kids and teens.
Job scams
Targeting recent high school or college graduates, scammers will aim to get a young person to apply for a job then either steal their identity or bank information. Preying on a young person’s desire to start working – at a time when the job market is tough – these scams are often successful. In some cases, emails will appear to come from a legitimate company or even a trusted professor whose email has been hacked.
The “recruiter” will conduct an interview online and convince the victim they got the job – an exchange of personal information and/or money will follow, leaving the young person without a job, often out of pocket, and the knowledge they shared some of their most sensitive data with a fraudster.
How to keep kids and teens safe from online scams
Knowing about the latest and most common scams is an important starting point when it comes to keeping the young people in your life safe. Next, it’s all about educating them so they know what to watch out for. Regularly sharing popular scams with them will help remind them of the risks and dangers that exist online, and explaining key tips will be crucial to their online security. Here are some fundamentals to share:
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Assume everything that is posted is public. Once an image, video or message is online, it can go anywhere.
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Set strong passwords. Make them hard to guess and don’t share them, even with your friends.
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Question what you see online. Never share sensitive information or photos with someone you haven’t met in person.
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Trust your gut. If you think something seems off (i.e., a job interview conducted entirely via chat or a deal on an item that is sold out everywhere else), think twice before giving up money or information. Find another way to verify the situation, or just let it go!
Protecting your kids online starts with a conversation. Review this checklist with your kids to help them understand online safety and the roles we all play in keeping our family safe.
To keep up with the latest cyber scams, visit RBC’s Scam Alerts page. Regularly updated, the page lists cyber scams currently affecting RBC clients, outlines detailed scenarios, tips for protecting yourself and your children and steps to take should anyone in your family become a target.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
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