Today is Safer Internet Day and this year’s theme is “Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online”.
At school all the children learnt about what scams are. They learnt that:
- A scam is a way of tricking people into handing over money, valuable items, or personal information
- Scams can happen both offline and online
- Online scams can be seen on websites, in games, emails, on social media and in text messages
- If you have been the victim of an online scam, it is not your fault
The last point is really important and we spoke about how the children would not get in trouble if they were scammed. This is an important message so that children tell a trusted adult if anything strange happens online, without the worry of getting in trouble.
We also learnt the this to think about when we see something online to help us work out if it is a scam:
Here are some top tips for children to help you stay safe from scams online and enjoy your time learning, playing and chatting with others.
For parents
Scams can happen in many online spaces, from messages and inboxes to gaming and social media. Being wary in online environments can help you stay safer and spot if you or your child may be at risk. This article has some good tips for adults as well as how to manage the conversations with your children.
This Safer Internet Day we are starting a conversation about how to spot, respond to and report all types of scams online. Scams can take many forms and may target anyone, including young people. Use these top tips to keep you and your loved ones safe online.
As with everything to do with online safety, the best way to protect your children and to help them develop their skills is to keep having a conversation with them. Here are some conversation starters for you to try at home:
If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your class teacher, Miss Coleman or Miss Carruthers.