How to protect kids online from 5 common internet scams

At a glance

• Common internet scams that target kids include fake gaming trades, phishing and smishing, AI impersonation, money mule schemes and sextortion.
• Help kids spot a scam by teaching them to pause when a message asks them to act immediately, asks for money or login information, or seems too good to be true.
• If your child is targeted, stop contact with the scammer, preserve any evidence by taking screenshots, secure affected accounts or payment methods and report the incident through the appropriate platform and official channels.

I always tell my kids, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” But today’s scams don’t always look suspicious. They may come from a hacked friend’s account, an AI-generated voice or someone who genuinely believes the scam is real and shares it with others.

According to Verizon research, 63% of Americans have experienced some type of cyber threat in the past year, and 80% of parents worry about their children being manipulated by online scams.

These scams often work because they get kids to react quickly without stopping to consider what’s really happening. Parents can encourage their children to ask three simple questions before they click a link, send money or share personal information:

• Who is asking me? Could this account be fake, hacked or copied?
• Why are they asking me to act so fast? Urgency is one of the oldest tricks scammers use.
• Can I verify this another way? Is there a way to call, text or ask a trusted adult before responding?

Here’s a deeper look at each of the scams your kid is likely to run into, what parents should know, what kids should watch out for and what to do if you think your child is a victim.

5 internet scams parents should know about

Common scams targeting kids include gaming scams, phishing, AI impersonation and sextortion.

What is a gaming scam?

Many scams happen entirely inside online games. Scammers may promise free in-game currency, exclusive skins or rare items. Gaming accounts often contain years of progress, purchased games and rare items, making them valuable targets for scammers.

One common tactic is offering to buy in-game items through a digital wallet, in-game currency or another payment service but only after your kid sends the items first. Once the trade is complete, the scammer disappears without ever sending the money.

I remember the first time this happened to one of my kids in Roblox. We were completely caught off guard because we didn’t even realize this type of scam existed. My son was devastated, but he learned a lesson he’ll never forget: Don’t trust random people on the internet.

Another common scam involves account sharing. Someone says, “Let me log in to your account, and I’ll buy you currency or rare items with my credit card. I’ll remove my card afterward.” Instead, they change the password, recovery email and security settings, locking the owner out completely.

Why kids fall for it: Kids think of their favorite games as places where friends hang out. They naturally want to believe good things are true.

If this happened to your child:

• Change the account password immediately.
• Turn on two-factor authentication.
• Report it to the game’s support team.
• Check whether any payment information is attached to the account.

What is phishing and smishing?

Phishing scams arrive by email. Smishing scams arrive by text. Both try to trick kids into clicking a link or sharing usernames, passwords or other personal information. The message may look like it came from a game, school or streaming service.

What to teach your kids: You don’t need to memorize every kind of scam message. Instead, look for common patterns:

• The message creates urgency — for example, they want you to “click the link now” to resolve a crucial issue.
• It asks for your login information.
• It tells you something is wrong with your account.

If this happened to your child:

• Change passwords immediately.
• Change any other account using that password.
• Watch for unusual account activity in your account or on your bank card.
• Tell your child’s school if a school account was involved.

What is an AI impersonation scam?

One of the latest and fastest-growing threats is AI-generated impersonation. Scammers can easily create realistic voices, photos and even videos that appear to come from someone your kid knows or even a popular influencer.

For example, a teen might receive a voice message that sounds exactly like a friend asking for money or a password. Scammers also copy profile photos, usernames and posts to create convincing fake accounts.

Why this one feels believable: For most of our lives, hearing someone’s voice or seeing their face has been enough to prove they were real. AI is changing that. Kids are especially likely to respond quickly when a message feels urgent or emotional, making it even more important to pause before acting.

If this happened to your child:

• Contact the real person another way before responding.
• Report the fake account.
• Save screenshots before blocking the scammer.
• Create a family safe word now, so everyone has a simple way to confirm whether an emergency is real.

Pyramid schemes and referral scams

Kids are increasingly being exposed to “easy money” referral scams through social media and messaging apps.

Why kids fall for it

This scam has hit my house hard. My wife and I are constantly explaining that these offers aren’t real, but that’s not always easy when every social media influencer and friend seems to be saying otherwise.

If this happened to your child:

• Stop communicating.
• Cancel any pending payments if possible.
• Talk through what happened without blame.
• The Federal Trade Commission also has a step-by-step guide if you’ve been scammed.

What is a sextortion scam?

This scam begins with friendship. Someone pretending to be another tween or teen builds trust over days or weeks before asking for an intimate photo. Once they have it, they demand money or more images to keep it from being shared.

Why kids stay quiet: Fear and embarrassment can keep many kids from telling an adult. That’s exactly what scammers are counting on. Helping your child feel safe enough to ask for help is just as important as reporting the crime.

If this happened to your child:

• Tell your child they are not in trouble.
• Stop communicating with the scammer.
• Save evidence instead of deleting it.
• Report the incident to the platform and law enforcement if appropriate.
• Helping your child feel safe enough to ask for help is one of the most important ways to stop the scam.
• The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers immediate help through its sextortion resources, which can help remove or stop the spread of explicit images taken when a person was under 18.

How technology can help keep your child safe

A simple phishing click shouldn't impact your child's financial future. Verizon’s Identity Secure acts as an essential safety net, continuously monitoring the dark web and providing you with real-time alerts if their data is compromised. You will also be backed by expert restoration support to assist you if your child's identity is stolen and misused.

My overall message to parents is that you don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert. By teaching kids how to think instead of simply what to avoid, parents can help prepare them for whatever comes next.

Internet scam glossary for parents

Account takeover scam: A scammer tricks a child into sharing a password or verification code, then changes the account settings so the real owner can’t get back in. Gaming accounts are common targets.

AI impersonation scam: A scammer might ask for money and pretend to be a friend, a relative in trouble or even a popular influencer.

CAPTCHA scam: Some fake websites use phony CAPTCHA tests to trick people into downloading malware or running harmful commands on their computer. A real CAPTCHA should never ask someone to copy code into a computer’s settings or install software.

Credential stuffing: Criminals take usernames and passwords stolen in previous data breaches and then try them on other websites. That’s why using the same password for every account is risky. A unique password for each account can prevent one stolen login from becoming many.

Crypto investment fraud (pig butchering): A long-term scam in which a criminal builds trust before encouraging someone to invest in cryptocurrency through a fake investment platform. The scammer may show fake profits to encourage larger investments before disappearing with the money. Remind teens that investment opportunities from strangers or anyone promising guaranteed returns are almost always scams.

Deepfake: A deepfake is an AI-generated image or video designed to look real. It may show someone saying or doing something that never actually happened. As these tools improve, families should get into the habit of verifying surprising videos before believing or sharing them.

Gaming scam: Gaming scams usually promise something kids already want, such as in-game currency, rare skins or exclusive items. Others involve fake trades or offers to “help” with an account. Remind kids that if someone asks them to share login information or send items first, such as a rare character or collectible they’ve worked hard to earn, it’s probably a scam.

Money mule scam: A money mule scam tricks someone into moving money for a criminal. Teens may think they’re helping with a simple online job or earning money when they’re actually transferring stolen money.

Phishing: Phishing is an attempt to steal passwords or personal information through fake emails, websites or messages that look legitimate. A phishing message may look like it’s coming from a school, streaming service, game company or bank.

QR code scam: Not every QR code is safe. Some scammers place QR codes on packages, flyers or signs that send people to fake websites designed to collect personal or payment information. If your child doesn’t know where a QR code came from, it’s safer not to scan it.

Sextortion: Sextortion usually begins with someone pretending to be another young person online. After building trust, the scammer pressures a child to share an intimate photo, then demands money or more images to keep it from being shared.

Smishing: Smishing is phishing through text messages. A text may claim a package couldn’t be delivered, a payment failed or an account has been locked. The goal is to get someone to click a fake link or share personal information.

Social engineering: Social engineering is the practice of manipulating people instead of hacking computers. Rather than breaking into an account, scammers build trust, create urgency or play on emotions to convince someone to give away information voluntarily.

Virtual kidnapping scam: Using AI-generated voices or other fake evidence, scammers convince a parent that a child has been kidnapped or is in danger and needs money immediately. Families can prepare by creating a private family code word and agreeing to verify emergency requests before sending money.

Vishing: Vishing is phishing over the phone. Instead of an email or text, the scam arrives as a phone call or voice message. The caller may pretend to represent a bank, government agency or technology company and pressure someone into sharing personal information.

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