Children can face many dangers on the Internet, including online predators, cyberbullies, and online scams.

Today, we’ll focus on those that take our money. Nowadays, online scams and fraudulent websites are just too common.

And the worst thing is that they mainly target children and elderly people. So, in this article, we’ll see how you can protect your children from digital scams and ensure their online safety.

Importance of Teaching Children About Online Scams

You probably don’t let your children carry large amounts of money in real life because of safety reasons.

Well, you also shouldn’t let your children carry large amounts of money or private information in the digital world. Online scammers are just as big of a threat as thieves in the real world.

So, teaching your children about online scams can prevent you from having an empty bank account and save you from many headaches.

Common Types of Online Scams Targeting Children

Children may encounter many types of digital scams. This includes phishing scams, fraudulent websites, online shopping scams, etc.

For example, phishing scams are when you receive a message or mail from what seems to be a reliable company. You follow the steps, fill out your private information, and voila! You get scammed.

So, to make your life simpler, here is a list of some obvious signs that you are contacting with a scammer or using a fraudulent website:

• Grammar mistakes;

• Emergency messages;
• Suspicious context;
• Giveaways you didn’t enter;
• You get asked the fill out personal info;
• You get asked to pay beforehand;
• The account prefers that you wire the money;

But how can you know that your child has become a victim of digital scams? Well, children are easy to crack.

If you see that your children avoid using tech, avoid talking to you, and feel stressed out, then they might have fallen for an online scam.

How to Educate Your Child About Online Risks and Scams

Children often are reluctant to learn. That’s why parents are here, right? Of course, parents are the ones that should motivate children to learn. So, from the moment you give your children their own phone, you must teach them about online risks.

You should mainly cover keeping private information safe, setting strong passwords, and avoiding unsafe websites. And never forget the stranger danger rule! 

Studies by Cambridge University have shown that children learn better through play, so you can try teaching your little ones how to recognize online scams by simulating them at home.

Best Practices for Secure Browsing to Protect My Child

Today’s browsers offer parents and children many safety measures through their security settings.

For example, you can enable the SafeSearch mode on your children’s browser or limit the content your child watches.

Furthermore, you can use Google Family Link or other parental control apps to monitor your children’s online behavior.

How Can I Strengthen Privacy Settings to Safeguard My Child’s Online Presence?

Children spend most of their time on social media. Their profiles are their social and digital footprints.

So, it’s crucial to protect your children’s social media profiles. To do this, open the security settings on social media platforms.

There, you can easily adjust the privacy settings to your liking. But to make it easier, here are some tips that strengthen your children’s online safety:

• Make the profile private;
• Limit who messages your children;
• Limit who follows your children;
• Filter out inappropriate content;

How Can I Teach My Child to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Attempts?

We already discussed that phishing attempts happen when scammers present themselves as well-known companies.

They are sometimes hard to recognize, but here are some signs that you have encountered a phishing attack:

• They demand you give money;
• They want your personal information;
• They suggest you click on a suspicious link;
• They present themselves as a free giveaway;
• They tell you that you have issues with your account or with payments you haven’t done;

Online Safety Measures for Social Media

Firstly, your children must be aware of online dangers and able to recognize them immediately.

Moreover, your children should know that sharing personal information and communicating with strangers is wrong.

Lastly, teach your children to be friendly and avoid any conflict online. That lowers the chances of your children getting exposed to online dangers.

What Safety Measures Should I Take for My Child’s Online Gaming Activities?

Studies have shown that children and teens have lost millions of dollars to scammers and hackers. Most of them contact children through video games. And to top that off, children can also encounter online predators and cyberbullies on video games.

So, to make sure your children are safe online, monitor their gaming activities. You can even play with them. It’s fun!

What Parental Control Software and Tools Can Assist in Protecting My Child?

Many parental control apps, such as Qustodio, mSpy, Norton Family, Panda Dome Family, Net Nanny, and others, can assist in protecting children.

With these apps, you can see everything your children do on their tech devices (you basically stalk them).

But keep in mind the factors like prices, features, flexibility, and adaptability when picking a parental control software.

Recognizing and Reporting Online Scams

After your children recognize the scam, they must report it. Encourage them to report it to you, and you can pass it on to the community and relevant authorities.

For example, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Just click this link (don’t worry, it isn’t a scam).

Keeping Software and Devices Secure

Another step in keeping your children safe from scammers is regularly updating your devices.

You should also install up-to-date antimalware programs, secure devices with strong passwords, and set up biometric authentication.

Summary: Key Strategies to Safeguard Your Child Against Online Scams and Fraudulent Websites

We talked about keeping personal info safe, setting strong passwords, recognizing scams, and reporting them.

But the most crucial safety measure is parental presence. With your guidance, children will be much safer online and in real life as well.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

ALSO READ: 4 Types of Parenting Styles and Their Effect on Children