The Rising Threat of Online Grooming
We´ve talked about grooming on this platform before, but we are coming back to it again. Online grooming continues to be an increasingly alarming issue in today's digital age.
Every single one of us has encountered a scam of some sort. But adults are not the only ones being targeted. You may be asking yourself, why would anyone target a child? The answer is fairly simple. Oftentimes, kids are more susceptible to scams than adults; they may be less prepared to face them, thus more likely to fall for them and give away personal information. And that is where you come in.
Parents and educators need to talk to their kids and play an active role in their online lives. It is no longer the best option merely to shield kids from the online world, rather we need to guide them and teach them responsible ways of being online so that they can avoid falling into harm's way.
Kids use the online world to talk to friends, stay connected, do homework, play games and find other forms of entertainment. By being active in their online lives, you can help them consume appropriate content and stay safe from scams. Scammers actively target children to capture their personal information, steal money or even demand ransom.
Of course, we cannot predict what kinds of scams your kids may encounter, but there are a few that repeat quite often. Here is a list of the most common scams targeting kids:
1. Fake contests – this is a type of a phishing scam where kids are contacted on social media by a fraudulent actor inviting them to enter a contest that requires them to pay a fee. Or they might be told they have won a contest, but they need to share their personal information to collect the prize, which may never arrive.
2. Online quizzes – online quizzes are an interesting way to spend time online, especially for kids trying to figure out who they are. However, during the quiz, if the child is asked to share personal information such as where they live, their pet’s name, their best friend’s name, or their favorite TV show, it’s a red flag. These are often used as passwords, especially by kids, and could lead to the attacker gaining access to the child’s profile. This may later lead to them asking for ransom or other blackmail tactics.
3. Online games – people online may not be who they claim to be, and that is true for online game players as well. Bad actors may try to befriend a child and then later ask for personal information such as names, passwords and addresses. In return, they would promise the child some game “coins” or new “skins,” which of course, never actually make it to the child’s account.
4. Pop-up scams – pop-ups are an easy way to get someone to click on a link that would lead them to a malicious website or download something we may not want on our device. A child may not realize that clicking on something may cause potential harm.
5. “Free” service scans – a child might sign up for a free service that offers new smartphone wallpapers of their favorite movie or band. These are seldom free and might later require payment or may even download malicious code that wreaks havoc on their device.
6. Sextortion scams – in this scenario, a malicious actor may pressure the child to share explicit photos and videos of themselves. These children could then be groomed by the individual for a long time, allowing them to learn a lot about the child that they can later use as leverage to hold over the child when they refuse to comply.
How to protect your child
The scams we outlined above are only a few of all the different types of scams kids can encounter online. Threat actors prey on the vulnerability of children every day. Therefore, it is important to teach them how to react and what not to do when they come across such behavior online.
Here are some tips:
- Talk to your children about the threats awaiting them online
- Use a trusted security solution
- Remind them not to click on links, pop-ups, or emails they do not know
- Emphasize never sharing personal information (name, birthday, school, address, etc.) with anyone online
- Use a pop-up blocker on the browser
- Set up your kid’s device as being used by a child. This way, you can define the apps they use and ensure no payment is made without your knowledge and consent
- Encourage your kids not to talk to strangers offline or online
- Use a parental control
The best advice we can give you is to have an open-minded relationship with your child, allowing them to talk to you and come to you with any and all concerns both online and off. As with any other online threat, it is crucial for the child’s parent to lead them rather than leave them to make their digital journey alone. Make sure you are there for them, check their social media accounts with them, and talk to them about the ups and downs of the internet. So, when they encounter a scam, they know how to recognize it, how to deal with it, and how not to fall victim to the attacker. Make sure you are a positive force in their life and create a more cybersafe future for them.
