Parents: Scammers Are After Your Teenagers: Internet Scambusters #1,167
Teenagers spend a lot of time online, and the number of online users is growing. Scammers use tricks to sell fake products or offer amazing cheap deals to lure a teenager to try and steal personal information.
Protect Your Teenager from Being Targeted Online
A recent article by Scambusters, Online Gaming Scams Exploit Your Children – What You Need to Know to Protect Your Kids, dove into the alarming trend of scammers targeting youth gamers within the online gaming community.
It highlighted how these malicious individuals exploit various tactics to befriend young players, establishing relationships that appear genuine in order to gain their trust.
This article comes a bit more personal as I quickly saw how easily a teenager can be lured after a recent conversation with my teenage grandson when he showed me a “hot” deal on designer clothes for sale online. He got the link from social media. In his words, the deal was “epic.” Yes, we will be having that conversation soon about clicking on unknown links.
Today, we will look at specific strategies that scammers use beyond gaming. These scammers create fake websites that promise incredible deals on clothes, sports equipment, entertainment tickets, and other items that appeal to teenagers.
Their main goal is to trick young teens into sharing personal information. They hope that teenagers might give away their parents' financial details, which could lead to identity theft and other cybercrimes.
Scammers and the Websites They Use to Trick Teenagers
Scammers target teenagers through platforms that are appealing to them. Examples are:
- Social Media Platforms – Scammers create fake accounts to promote “giveaways” or deals that seem too good to be true.
- Gaming Platforms – Many online games have chat features, making them easy targets for scammers. These scammers offer fake in-game items or rewards to trick players.
- E-Commerce Sites – Fraudulent websites mimic legitimate stores and entice teens with discounts on trending items like sneakers, gadgets, or limited-edition merchandise.
Fake websites often look very professional, which makes it hard to tell them apart from real ones.
Scammers often try to sell enticing items that resonate with teens, such as:
- Discounted sneakers, designer clothes, or gadgets
- Concert or event tickets at unbelievably discounted prices
- Free game rewards or virtual goods that require payment upfront
- Influencer-branded merchandise or exclusive items
Scammers often attract people by promising exclusive deals or low prices. These offers can seem hard to resist. They might say “Act now” to push teenagers to respond immediately.
Information Scammers Want from Teenagers
Scammers want personal information that they can use to commit fraud. Most teenagers don’t have their own credit cards, but they might use their parents' credit cards to buy things online.
Scammers are looking for:
- Credit card details
- Social Security numbers
- Login credentials to gaming or e-commerce accounts
- Email addresses and contacts
Teenagers do not understand the dangers of sharing their Social Security numbers. This information can lead to identity theft or be sold on the dark web.
Scamming teenagers is NOT a new trend. For many years, scammers have taken advantage of young people's curiosity and inexperience. What has changed is how they operate. With social media and online payment apps, scammers can now reach teens more easily and directly.
How Teenagers Are Convinced to Buy
Scammers deploy several strategies to trick teens into buying fraudulent items, such as:
- Sending direct messages with discount offers or claiming the teen has “won” an exclusive prize.
- Setting up fake influencer profiles or using endorsements from seemingly credible online personalities.
- Some scammers use a countdown timer and limit the time the user has to complete the purchase.
- Scammers fraudulently use popular sports company names to entice young sports enthusiasts to respond.
- Scammers use the standard “fear” tactic to get teenagers to act immediately. The teenager thinks if "I don’t act now, I will miss out on a good deal."
Red Flags for Parents and Teenagers to Watch
Here are important warning signs to help you spot potential scams:
- Offers that appear too good to be true (e.g., $500 shoes for $50).
- Websites without secure connections (look for "https" or a padlock in the URL).
- Pressure tactics, like “limited-time offers.”
- Unsolicited messages from strangers asking for personal or financial information.
- Missing return policies, reviews, or contact information on e-commerce sites.
What to Do If a Teenager Thinks They've Been Scammed
If a teenager suspects they've been scammed, take the following steps immediately:
- Block the scammer's account or stop messaging them.
- Change passwords for any compromised accounts.
- Report the Scam to social media platforms (e.g., use "Report" options).
- Report the Scam to local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Contact the bank to see if the credit card or payment details were shared.
- Educate how to avoid future scams.
Here is a real-life example of a teenager scam could look like:
- 16-year-old Sarah received a DM on her social media from someone claiming to represent her favorite influencer. They offered her a “fan-exclusive hoodie” for $30 and directed her to a professional-looking website. After making the payment, Sarah never received the product, and the account disappeared. Upon investigation, it turned out the scammer had replicated the influencer’s profile, tricking dozens of teens into similar fraud.
Resources for Parents and Teenagers
It is important to educate teenagers that scammers use other methods besides social media to find their victims.
- Email Scams with phishing links offering free products.
- Fake Ads on legitimate websites that redirect to fraudulent stores.
- Messaging Apps with links promising discount codes or game rewards.
Protecting teenagers starts with communication and awareness. Here are some helpful resources:
- Stay Safe Online – Provide tips on safe internet practices. (YouTube)
- FTC Consumer Advice – Offers steps for reporting and recovering from scams.
- StopBullying.gov – Focuses on recognizing and combating online exploitation.
- To help monitor for identity theft, contact credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
Conclusion
Understanding scams that target teenagers is a step forward in defending against them. Teenagers and parents should remain vigilant and proactive about online safety. Discuss the risks today, and remember, when in doubt, trust your instincts.
Stay Safe!