How To Protect Teenagers From Online Scams

Help teens avoid gaming, social media, sextortion, and money-mule scams.

Last reviewed: 1 June 2026

Teenagers face scams tailored to their online lives: gaming and 'free skins' scams, social media shop and giveaway scams, sextortion, and money-mule recruitment disguised as easy money. Open, non-judgemental conversations matter most.

Common scams targeting teens

Knowing the formats helps teens recognise them.

Gaming scams (free in-game currency, account 'verification')
Social media giveaway and shop scams
Sextortion via flirtatious new 'contacts'
'Easy money' that's actually money-mule recruitment

How to help

Build trust so they'll come to you, especially about sextortion where shame is intense.

Make clear they can always tell you, no matter what — no punishment
Explain that sextortion is a crime against them, and paying rarely helps
Warn that letting others use their bank account can be a crime
Encourage scepticism of 'free' and 'easy money' offers

Conversation script

“If anyone online ever pressures or threatens you — including about images — you can tell me and you won't be in trouble.”

“Never let anyone use your bank account to move money, even a friend — it can be a crime.”

“If something online seems like free money or free stuff, let's check it together first.”

Frequently asked questions

My teen is being sextorted — what should they do?

Stop contact and don't pay (paying usually increases demands), preserve evidence, and report to the platform and police. Reassure them it's a crime against them and they're not to blame — support, not punishment, is key.