BBB warns of top technology scams targeting children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Technology has become an integral part of life for American families, including children. However, this digital immersion also makes kids prime targets for scammers.

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), screen-based technology has become deeply embedded in children’s lives over the past decade. As a result, more than half of American kids under the age of 11 now own a smartphone.

“Parents play a crucial role in protecting their children from online scams,” said Robyn Householder, president and CEO of the BBB Serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “By educating themselves and their kids about the dangers of the internet, setting clear rules, and using the right tools, they can create a safer digital environment for the whole family.”

Officials said kids are generally more inexperienced and trusting than adults, which makes them more susceptible to online scams, including the ones listed below:

• Social media scams: Scammers exploit social media platforms — often by creating deceptive ads related to contests that require personal details to enter — to trick teenagers into providing information that can be used for identity theft.
• Cell phone scams: Confusing offers for free ringtones and wallpapers are used to lure children. However, the fine print that is frequently overlooked by kids will indicate a subscription service that leads to monthly fees.
• Video game scams: Popular games like Fortnite and Roblox are used by scammers to trick children into downloading malware, which then steals sensitive info like credit card details, home addresses, and phone numbers.
• Webcam security scams: The use of computers equipped with webcams spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, scammers found ways to infiltrate unsecured cameras so they can collect images and information that can be used for blackmail.

In order to protect your children from the “ever-evolving landscape of digital scams,” the BBB offered the following suggestions for parents:

• Introduce scam awareness: Educate kids about what scams are and how they work.
• Educate on risks: Discuss the dangers of posting personal details and pictures on social networking platforms.
• Establish rules: Create a list of internet safety rules for the whole family to follow.
• Address inappropriate content: Teach children what to do if they come across inappropriate material online.
• Offer guidance on interactions: Instruct kids how to handle communications from internet strangers, including those in forums, chat rooms, and social media.
• Monitor downloads: Make sure children don’t download anything without parental approval.
• Invest in security software: Purchase anti-virus and anti-spyware software in order to protect devices.
• Promote webcam safety: Encourage kids to cover their webcams when they aren’t in use.

If you discover suspected fraud, you are asked to report it to the BBB’s Scam Tracker , as well as contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by going online or calling 877-FTC-Help.

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