Talking to your kids about account security

Your kids may seem savvy, but they are just as vulnerable to online fraud as adults. The fraudsters know this and are now actively targeting children.

Simply using the internet means possible exposure to online scams, something your child might not have any concept of.

So, when they start being more independent with their money and begin to spend online, it’s good to discuss account security and online scams.

Stay up to date

Keep aware of the latest internet scams - useful links include:

The government’s Money Helper website.

Citizen's Advice

Get help with online scams.

Teach kids the common warning signs

Once you are up to date, it’s time to also let your kids know what warning signs to look out for:

Spelling and grammatical errors – these are common in scams
Offers from overseas – anything from someone not in the UK
Emotional manipulation – any communication that plays on your feelings
Talent searches – offers from film producers and modelling agencies
Scholarships – offers of academic scholarships
‘Free’ – offers of something free should be treated with caution.

Keep chatting
Make time to regularly discuss internet safety with your child. Don’t think of it as a one-off conversation – an ongoing chat is better. Try and emphasise that often we feel that something is wrong without knowing why. Going with a hunch is always a good idea with online and account security and it’s always best for them to check anything they think is odd with you.

You and your child can now both use the app so it's a good time to share, not just how you budget using Jars, but also how you protect yourself from online fraud.

One of the best ways to chat to your child about scams and internet safety is to share with them the kind of thinking you use to spot scams and possibly examples of dodgy emails you’ve received.

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