NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Technology has become an integral part of American families’ lives, including children, but this digital immersion has also made them prime targets for scammers.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), screen-based technology has become so ingrained in children’s lives over the past decade that more than half of American children under the age of 11 now own a smartphone.
“Parents play a critical role in protecting their children from online scams,” said Robin Householder, president and CEO of BBB for Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “By educating yourself and your children about the dangers of the internet, setting clear rules and using the right tools, you can create a safer digital environment for the whole family.”
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Authorities said children are generally less experienced and more trusting than adults, making them more susceptible to online scams such as:
Social Media Scams: Scammers exploit social media platforms, often creating deceptive ads related to contests that require the input of personal information to trick teenagers into providing information that can be used for identity theft. Mobile Phone Scams: Misleading offers of free ringtones and wallpapers are used to lure children. However, the fine print that children often overlook shows subscription services that lead to monthly fees. Video Game Scams: Scammers use popular games such as Fortnite and Roblox to trick children into downloading malware to steal sensitive information such as credit card details, home addresses, and phone numbers. Webcam Security Scams: The use of computers with webcams has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, scammers have found ways to hack into unsecured cameras to gather images and information that can be used for blackmail. This email from the Social Security Administration is not a scam
The BBB offers the following suggestions to parents to protect their children from constantly evolving digital scams:
Raise scam awareness: Educate your children about what scams are and how they work. Educate them about the risks: Discuss the dangers of posting personal information and photos on social networking platforms. Establish rules: Create a list of internet safety rules for all family members to follow. Deal with inappropriate content: Teach your children what to do if they come across inappropriate content online. Provide interaction guidance: Instruct your children on how to deal with communications from strangers on the internet, including in forums, chat rooms, and social media. Monitor downloads: Make sure your children don’t download anything without your permission. Invest in security software: Purchase antivirus and antispyware software to protect their devices. Promote webcam safety: Encourage your children to cover their webcams when not in use.
If you spot a suspected scam, you are asked to report it to the BBB’s Scam Tracking System and contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or by calling 877-FTC-Help.