With an on the go lifestyle, the usage of smartphones has become ubiquitous and mobile internet is just another bare essential feature. It is convenient to use phones not only for keeping in touch with loved ones but also carrying out financial transactions, using social media and various mobile apps. Despite multiple security layers, millions of knowledgeable adults fall prey to numerous scams every day.
The scamming incidents are scary and the most vulnerable are young kids who are still amateurs learning to leverage hi-tech gadgets out of sheer curiosity. More than the dollars it is the heartache that cost parents profoundly when it comes to their children being scammed. The logical brains are soon taken over by emotional minds; especially the case with mothers. Scammers know it well and thus rather than getting in to a panic mode post an incident, it is better to be vigilant and thoroughly aware of such frauds beforehand.
Along with awareness, there are some simple ways to protect innocent kids from phone fraudsters. Let us take a look at them.
1. Educate Yourself Before Imparting Knowledge to Kids
The best educational programs are booming nowadays because the trainers themselves undergo rigorous training prior to sharing their knowledge. The same applies to you; as a parent you need to familiarize yourself with all the current trends and as a result, frauds are no exceptions. Always keep yourself abreast with prevalent scams like free trial apps, virtual kidnapping scams, fake caller ids scams, silent calls, robocall scams etc. Once you have done your homework and feel confident enough about your knowledge level share it with your kids.
2. Educate Kids on How to Question Callers
Kids are constantly inquisitive and often ask different questions. You can tap this quality of children to channelize meaningful questions when someone calls. The questions can be as simple as who is on the call, why did they call or why they need certain information, is it okay if they consult elders before accepting any offer and so on. Use caller id checkers to trace unknown numbers and block them if required. Let your kids know that sharing sensitive information can put them and other family members in troubles. If the unidentified caller stop kids from taking permissions or consulting elders they might have ulterior motives.
3. Monitor Your Kid’s “Clicks”
Let your kids understand that a simple click to a malicious link can open doors for cybercriminals who can steal your bank and personal data. They might send emails that look genuine and gain access to the bank account including that of the children resulting in phishing attacks. Explain to them that they should never respond to unknown emails and should never click links sent through such email ids. Teach them how to handle the overwhelming number of pop-ups that might provide a crack into your sensitive data, by carefully hitting the close icon. Also, install a popup blocker and a parental control tool to curb the accidental clicks to anonymous sites.
4. Check Your Kid’s Monthly Financial Statements
It is a good habit to review your financial statement on a regular basis. It not only keeps a check on unwanted spending but also lets you know if any suspicious transactions have occurred. Kids’ bank account is not an exception to this. Fraudsters can use your kid’s details to create credit lines and this might result in serious consequences for your child’s future if gone unnoticed. Remember credit reports are never generated for minors. Applying a security freeze on credit lines can be a probable safety measure in such cases.
5. Avoid Purchases on Mobile Devices
Shopping in-purchase apps or other stuff is often connected with payment systems. Kids can use public Wi-Fi that might be unprotected and trolled by hackers, so it’s advisable that you or your kids don’t key in any sensitive information using such public networks. Ensure that you do not give away financial information to kids or save it on their devices. Lay strict ground rules like -they cannot purchase using mobile or without your approval. Set strong passwords for devices and accounts. Other ways include setting authentication for purchasing through apps and restricting download of apps both free and in-purchase.
6. Control Their Visits to Unknown Sites
Presence of the padlock icon and site URL that starts with “https” are safe while other sites may be prone to cyber vulnerabilities. Explain to kids about this and discourage them from visiting unsafe and unfamiliar websites. Also teach them to look for logos or you can verify websites logos on their behalf to ensure the site is safe to use. Alternately you can use privacy settings to protect your information on social sites.
7. Install Antivirus and Security Software
There are many reliable antivirus and software security applications such as Lookout that are easily available at nominal costs. They include parental control settings so you monitor what your kids can access and what they cannot. Antivirus software keeps scanning your device for malicious activities and sends instant alerts. Besides, they also block undesirable sites and popups avoiding chances of accidental clicks to infectious websites.
8. Curb Impulsive Response Habit
Scammers induce a sense of urgency so that they can get you tricked before you can think. Educate your kids about such patterns. Kids may not easily learn what you are telling them but they will imitate you. In the first place you need to be patient and always take time before getting into action. Tell your kids to take advice from elders before responding to anyone in excitement or out of urgency. Put them into a habit of never being pressured to do something just because someone is in a hurry.
9. Always Communicate and Read Early Signals
You should often discuss about current affairs and happenings around you. Talk to them on a regular basis as in what they like to do on mobiles or internet, whom they talked to during the day, did they receive calls from any unknown number/person over phone, etc. Be open and let them know that they can always come to you if they find anything apprehensive in form of text messages, emails or pop-ups. Learn to read nonverbal signals that your kids pass on when they handle phones and instantly question them if you are suspicious about their behavior.
In today’s twisted world, protecting ourselves from scams and hacks is a tall task. It is even more dangerous when our kids become the target. Instilling some knowledge, awareness and self-belief can go a long way with your kids when it comes to thwart phone scams.