How to stay safe from scammers

What do scammers often do?

• Create urgency (“Act now or you’ll lose this!”)
• Ask for personal information (passwords, codes, address, school info)
• Request money through unusual methods (gift cards, crypto, wire transfers)
• Pretend to be someone you trust (a bank, school, friend, celebrity).

1. Watch for Common Red Flags

• Messages that create urgency, such as “Act now or your account will be closed.”
• Requests for personal information like passwords, verification codes, or your address.
• Demands for unusual payment methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
• Someone pretending to be a bank, company, teacher, or even a friend.
• Offers that seem too good to be true.

If something feels rushed, secretive, or overly dramatic, take a step back before responding.

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2. Protect Your Personal Information

• Never share your passwords with anyone.
• Do not give out verification codes sent to your phone or email.
• Keep your home address, phone number, school name, and other private details off public profiles.
• Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts.
• Turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible.

Your personal information is valuable. Treat it carefully and only share it when absolutely necessary.

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3. Be Careful on Social Media

• Set your accounts to private.
• Only accept friend or follow requests from people you actually know.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links sent through direct messages or comments.
• Be cautious of fake giveaways, prize announcements, or influencer impersonators.
• Think before posting photos or updates that reveal your location in real time.

Scammers often use social media to gather information before targeting someone.

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4. Be Smart About Money

• Never send money to someone you have only met online.
• Do not share bank account or debit card details through text or social media.
• Be suspicious of anyone asking you to “help transfer money.”
• Remember that legitimate prizes do not require you to pay a fee first.

If someone is asking for money quickly and privately, it is likely a scam.

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5. Watch Out for Impersonation

Scammers frequently pretend to be:

• Banks or financial institutions
• Government agencies
• Tech support representatives
• Charities
• Classmates or online friends

If you are unsure whether a message is real, contact the organization directly using their official website or phone number. Do not rely on the contact information provided in the suspicious message.

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6. Trust Your Instincts

• If something feels wrong, it probably is.
• If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
• If someone pressures you to keep something a secret, that is a warning sign.

When in doubt, talk to a parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult before taking action.

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7. What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

• Tell a trusted adult immediately.
• Change your passwords as soon as possible.
• Report the scam account on the platform where it happened.
• Contact your bank right away if money or financial information was involved.

Being targeted by a scam does not mean you are careless. Scammers are skilled at manipulating people. The most important thing is to act quickly and learn from the experience.

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