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Young people are online more than ever before. And while it may seem like sitting at the computer would be a much safer activity than playing in the street or riding dirt bikes, that’s not necessarily the case. The internet comes with plenty of potential threats, ranging from cyberbullying to online scams, and parents need to be vigilant about keeping their kids protected.
Read on for some basic tips on how to talk to your teens about online scams. These tricky frauds could potentially cost them money, their reputation, or worse—so it’s best to raise awareness as soon as they start using the internet.
Scams Against Kids and Teens Are on the Rise
Online background check service Social Catfish published a 2021 study on internet scams in America, which was partly compiled with data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They found an alarming rise in the number of scams involving kids and teen—specifically, an increase of 156 percent from 2017 to 2020. That’s even bigger than the growth percentage for elderly individuals, which falls at 112 percent.
It’s no secret that kids today are comfortable on the internet; but it’s possible they’ve become a bit too comfortable—and too trusting as well. “Teens and young adults may be more trusting than older adults, and as a result, may be more likely to fall for scams,” says David Wurst, founder of WebCitz, a…
