How To Teach Children About Scams
Age-appropriate ways to teach children to recognise scams, protect their information, and come to you when something feels wrong.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Children encounter scam attempts earlier than most parents expect — in games, on social media, via messaging apps, and increasingly through AI-generated content. Teaching scam awareness early is not about frightening children; it's about building confidence and critical thinking. The goal is simple: they know what scams look and feel like, they trust their instincts, and they know they can always come to you without getting into trouble.
Start with the core idea: too good to be true
Even young children can grasp the idea that some offers are designed to trick people. Framing scams as a puzzle to solve — rather than something to fear — helps them engage rather than switch off.
- Use age-appropriate examples: free game currency, prize wins, mystery gifts
- Explain that clever people designed these to be hard to spot — it's not about being clever or silly
- Reinforce: if something seems amazingly good for no reason, pause and check
Teach the information rule
Children should understand that certain types of personal information are private and that legitimate apps and games will never need it.
- Full name, address, school name, and phone number stay private online
- Passwords are private — no legitimate game or friend needs your password
- Photos and location should only be shared with trusted people in real life
Build the habit of checking
Make it normal to pause and check before clicking anything unexpected or accepting an offer. Practise it together as a habit, not a rule to be enforced.
- Practise spotting fake-looking links and suspicious offers together
- Agree: show me anything that asks for information or money before clicking
- Make it clear they will never be in trouble for asking, even if they already clicked
Keep the conversation going
Scam types change quickly. Brief, regular conversations work better than one big talk.
- Mention scams naturally when they come up in news or your own experience
- Ask them what scams they've noticed or heard about from friends
- Celebrate when they spot a suspicious offer — it reinforces the behaviour
Conversation script
“Do you know what a scam is? It's when someone tricks you to get your information or money — even online.”
“What would you do if a game offered you free coins if you just typed in your password?”
“If something ever seems too good or makes you feel funny, you can always show me — no trouble, ever.”
Frequently asked questions
What age should I start talking to children about scams?
As soon as they are using the internet or playing online games — for many children that is age five or six. Keep explanations simple and concrete at young ages ('never give anyone your password') and build complexity as they grow.
My child clicked a suspicious link — should I be worried?
Stay calm and reassure them they did the right thing by telling you. Change any passwords that may have been entered, run a quick device scan, and check for any unusual activity. The fact that they told you is exactly the outcome the conversation is designed to achieve.
How do I talk about this without scaring them?
Frame scams as a puzzle and make spotting them a skill — not something to be afraid of. Emphasise that the people who design scams are trying to trick everyone, and that knowing how they work puts children one step ahead.