We usually think of scammers as targeting the elderly. We rightfully should be concerned about our elderly relatives being victimized by a fraudster. However, AARP, yes, the American Association of Retired People, recently posted on their Fraud Watch Network webpage an article encouraging parents to alert their teenage children to the dangers of scams.
AARP points out, that the FBI reports that in 2021 it
received 14,919 reports of scams from people aged 19 and younger with losses of
$101.4 million. Over the last few years there have been studies and articles among
scam prevention organizations that have suggested that young adults are just as
susceptible to scams as their older parents and grandparents.
Some common scams that target teens include:
·
Sextortion.
Sextortion involves a scammer acting like a peer contacting a teen, often a
male, on social media. With a little flirtation, the scammer convinces the
target to send a nude photo. Then the scammer threatens to send the photos to
family and friends if the teen does not pay up. If your child is a victim of
sextortion, notify your local police, and report it to the FBI at IC3.gov.
Also, save the evidence; the evidence that you turn over will help law
enforcement make a case to hand over to prosecutors.
·
Shopping scams.
Scammers will set up fake websites to imitate legitimate store websites. They
also advertise on social media. While the fake websites and ads target adults, scammers
might target teens by selling cool sneakers or hot electronics at
bargain-basement prices. Your teen might order an item they may not receive the
goods.
·
Scholarship scams.
Teens are targeted for fake offers of scholarships or help to acquire a
scholarship. The scammer’s goal is to collect money in the form of up-front
fees. They will advertise through email, letter, social media post, or a text
message, sometimes personalized with the student’s name, saying that your teen
has been selected for a scholarship or a financial aid package. They will use terms
such as “Guaranteed scholarship or your money back,” You can’t ger this
information anywhere else,” “I just need your credit card number to hold the
scholarship,” “We’ll do all the work, you just pay a processing fee.” They may
also offer to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for
a fee. The FTC points out that only the student applicant or a family member
can complete the FAFSA. Also, it points out that it is illegal for companies to
charge a fee before they help you acquire a scholarship or student loan.
·
Talent scout scams.
Your teen might receive a direct message or other social media message that
says they would make a great model, actor, or singer. The messenger will say
that they want to sign your teen up, but they have a contingency fee. For a fee
the scammer might offer to set up a photo shoot, or a series of classes to help
your teen ger a modeling or acting job. The FTC points out that real modeling
agencies will not ask you to pay for a test shoot, for your photographs, or to
“secure your spot” for a modeling job.”
Parents face many challenges in raising their
teenagers in the 21st century. But educating your children about scams
can help them into adulthood to protect themselves. Some recommendations to
approaching your teens when talking about scams include:
·
Teach your teens how to evaluate if a stranger
online is genuine or if they have ulterior motives such as gathering personal
information or stealing their money. Stay away from the “don’t talk to
strangers” advice. This only keeps them unprepared for the real world.
·
Approach your teen’s tech use with
open-ended questions and a lot of curiosity. You will understand your teen’s
online use better and how they approach their use.
·
Show them real-world examples of scams.
Show them phishing texts, ads, and emails that you receive. Point out what made
them suspicious to you and what to do if they encounter similar online
communications.
·
Don’t take your teen’s phone away as
punishment. Taking away or threatening to take away their phone will discourage
them from coming to you in case they need your help with a scam.
·
Teach the scam-busting basics to your
teen:
o
Beware of requests for gift cards.
o
Never share nude photos.
o
Be suspicious of incredible bargains.
o
Don’t accept everyone who asks to be your friend.
o
Think twice before clicking on a link from
a company or person you don’t know.
o
Protect your personal information.
o
Choose unique passwords for every account
that you use on the web.
o
Beware of any transaction involving
cryptocurrency.
o
Pay attention to “red flag feelings”,
listen to your gut.
o
Don’t blame yourself if you lose money in
a scam. Anyone can be a victim of a scam.
If your teen has been victimized by a scammer, report the
fraud to the following,
·
www.ReportFraud.FTC.gov-
This site also has useful information about scams.
·
www.IdentityTheft.gov-
this site, sponsored by the FTC, will take reports of identity theft, and it
has step by step checklists on how to recover from identity theft.
·
www.ic3.gov-
the FBI takes reports of any internet crime at this site, including identity
theft, online financial crimes, and sextortion.
·
https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint-
Report online crimes to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
AARP Fraud Watch Network:
Federal Trade Commission:
How Student Loans Work
and How to Avoid Scams-
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-student-loans-work-how-avoid-scams
Protecting Kids Online-
https://consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft-and-online-security/protecting-kids-online
Investopedia:
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1012/common-scams-targeted-at-teens.aspx
FBI: Sextortion
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