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The strongest protection against online scams is a child who pauses, checks with a trusted adult, and feels safe reporting a mistake. Practice that routine together, then reinforce it with privacy, account, device, and purchase settings. No setting can replace a calm conversation.
Start with a conversation your child can use
Talk about online safety before a suspicious message arrives. The FBI recommends asking, “What would you do if someone online talked to you and made you feel uncomfortable?” You can also ask what your child would do if a stranger contacted them, and how they think you would respond if they shared an upsetting online experience. Rehearse the answers supportively, without making the conversation feel like a test.
Make clear that your child can tell you or another trusted adult without automatically losing device access or being blamed. The FBI cautions that blame or taking away access can make a child less likely to disclose a future problem. A useful first sentence to practice is: “I got a strange message and I haven’t replied yet.”
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Teach a pause-and-check routine for suspicious messages
Ask your child to stop before clicking a link, replying, downloading a file, paying, or moving a conversation to another app. Scammers may impersonate a school, company, or government agency; invent an account problem or prize; pressure someone to act quickly; or ask for personal, financial, or login information. The request and pressure matter more than whether a message contains typos.
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- Pause: Don’t act while a message is creating urgency or excitement.
- Check: Ask a parent or trusted adult. Verify a claim through a known website, app, or phone number—not a link or number supplied in the message.
- Protect: Never give an online contact a password, device PIN, authentication code, or verification number.
Scammers may demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, cash, or payment app—methods that can be difficult to reverse. A request to pay this way is a reason to stop and consult an adult.
Practice spotting warning signs safely
The FTC suggests asking children to show a message and explain how they knew it might be a scam. Use an example or a suspicious message that has not been opened further; don’t click its links or reply as part of the lesson. Ask your child to identify impersonation, pressure to act quickly, an implausible offer, or an unusual payment request, then discuss how to verify the claim independently. The FTC’s guidance on text scams was dated March 2025: Parents: Talking to your kids about text scams.
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Review privacy, accounts, devices, and spending together
Settings can reduce exposure and limit accidental loss, but the available controls vary by device, operating system, app, and game. Review the settings on the child’s actual devices and accounts, and revisit them as services change.
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- Keep the operating system, browser, and apps updated. Protect the home Wi-Fi router with a strong password.
- Review account privacy, app permissions, and who can contact or follow your child. Prefer private account settings where suitable.
- Check purchase and payment settings, including in-app purchases. Parental controls may offer limits for content, screen time, contacts, activity, or spending, depending on the product.
For general U.S. guidance on device protections and parental controls, see the FTC’s Help kids protect their devices and Protecting Kids Online. The device-protection page is listed as November 2025.
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Set clear rules for games and online contacts
Check a game’s age rating and the parental controls offered by the game, console, or device. Agree on who may chat with your child and what information must stay private. Show them how to mute, block, and report a player. If an unknown player asks to move to private chat, requests personal details, or makes your child uncomfortable, they can stop responding and tell an adult.
The FTC notes that game ratings and parental controls are useful tools, but they do not replace discussion of family rules and expectations. Its Kids and Video Games guide covers chat, contact, and purchase controls.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Respond calmly if your child encounters a scam
- Stop contact and tell a trusted adult. Don’t reply, pay, click more links, or continue a conversation that feels suspicious.
- Preserve evidence. Keep the messages and related media; take screenshots and note the account name, phone number, and any transaction details. Don’t delete the chat before documenting it.
- Block and report. Use the service’s or phone provider’s reporting tools, then block the sender.
- Secure exposed accounts. If login details were shared, use the service’s official account-recovery process and change affected credentials from a trusted device.
- Contact the payment provider if needed. If money or payment details were exposed, reach the bank or payment provider using a known, official channel—not contact information in the suspicious message.
For U.S. internet-crime reports, the FBI identifies its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and local FBI field offices as reporting options. For serious child-safety incidents, the FBI also points to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and local law enforcement. Use the route appropriate to the incident.
Keep the family plan simple and repeatable
Agree on one rule your child can remember: when an online message asks for money, personal information, a code, or a quick decision, stop and show a trusted adult. Practice the conversation, make reporting feel safe, and check relevant settings together. The cited reporting channels are U.S.-based; outside the United States, contact the appropriate local authorities and child-safety organizations.
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