Spotting Online Scams: A Kid's Guide

Why this matters

Sometimes, people you meet online seem really nice. They might say kind things, give you compliments, or act like they want to be your friend. But sadly, not everyone is telling the truth. Some people are pretending, just to get you to trust them.

They might even try to trick you into giving them money or personal information once they think you trust them.

Cute cartoon purple bird with big eyes and orange beak and feet.

How these tricks work

Here is how some people try to trick others online:

They send friendly messages and say nice things to get your attention
They use photos that are not real or are taken from someone else
They ask lots of questions to get to know you better
Then, after a while, they ask for help or money

They might say:

They are sick and need money for hospital bills
They need money to travel and see you
There is a family emergency
They need help with a business or legal problem

They often say they cannot meet in person or do video calls and want to move the chat to a different app like WhatsApp or text. This helps them hide what they are doing.

What signs should you look out for?

If someone online is acting like a best friend very quickly, or asking you to keep secrets from your parents or teachers, that is a big warning sign.

Here are some things to watch out for:

They say they care about you or love you very quickly
They will not show their real face or avoid video chatting
They ask for money or gift cards, even a small amount
Their photos look like they are from a magazine or are too perfect
Their stories change or feel over the top

If anything feels weird or makes your tummy feel unsure, talk to someone you trust.

How can you stay safe?

If you or your family bought something and it turned out to be a scam:

Check their story – If someone sends pictures, you can ask an adult to help you check where those pictures are from. Sometimes they are stolen from other websites.
Talk about it – You should always feel safe talking to a grown-up if someone is messaging you. They can help you decide what is real and what might be a trick.
Do not send money – Even if someone says they are in trouble, never send money, gift cards or help with costs. If someone asks, it is almost always a scam.

What to do if you already trusted someone and it went wrong

If you or someone you know gave money or
private details to someone online:

Stop talking to the person straight away
Tell a trusted adult and ask them to contact the bank
Change any passwords you shared
Report it at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
Remember, it is okay to feel sad or confused. These people are very good at pretending, and it is not your fault