Scams Targeting Children
How scammers target children online and practical steps to help young people recognise and avoid fraud.
What is this?
Children and teenagers are increasingly targeted by scams, including fake giveaways, phishing messages, fraudulent online shops, and social media impersonation. Young people may lack the experience to recognise these tactics and can inadvertently share personal or financial information.
How it works
Scammers reach children through social media adverts, direct messages, fake websites, and in-game offers. Common tactics include fake celebrity giveaways, 'too good to be true' deals, phishing links disguised as account verification emails, and offers of free in-game currency. The goal is typically to steal personal information, payment details, or money.
Warning signs
In your child's behaviour
- • Talking excitedly about winning a competition or prize they did not enter
- • Asking for bank details, gift cards, or payment information urgently
- • Clicking on links from unknown sources and entering personal details
On their device
- • Unfamiliar emails or messages claiming the child has won something or needs to verify their account
- • Browser history showing visits to suspicious or cloned websites
- • Pop-up notifications or adware appearing on the device
Prevention steps
Teach the 'too good to be true' rule
Explain that if an offer seems unbelievably generous — free V-Bucks, a celebrity giveaway, a prize they did not enter — it is almost certainly a scam.
Practise identifying phishing
Show your child real examples of phishing messages and discuss the telltale signs: urgency, spelling errors, unfamiliar links, and requests for personal information.
Keep payment methods separate
Never store your main bank card on your child's device or accounts. Use prepaid cards or dedicated child accounts with spending limits for any online purchases.
What to do if it happens
- 1If personal information has been shared, change passwords immediately and enable two-factor authentication on affected accounts.
- 2If payment details have been compromised, contact your bank straight away to freeze the card and dispute any unauthorised transactions.
- 3Report the scam to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) and to the platform where the scam was encountered.
Related topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed: 2025-06-15