SAFER INTERNET DAY 2025

Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online

Safer Internet Day

11th February 2025

Top Tips

Tips for 11-14s

Use these tips to help you stay safe from scams online and enjoy your time online.

Protect your accounts with strong and separate passwords

Your password is like the key to your front door but for your online accounts. Use passwords that are hard to guess and never share them with other people. They shouldn’t contain any personal information and are best when they’re a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols.
Most importantly, make sure you use a different password on each account you use – so that if one gets breached, the others aren’t also at risk.

Carefully consider online purchases, including the reliability of the seller

If you’re looking to buy something online think carefully about whether it’s worth the money. It’s safest to buy from known retailers or by using marketplace and second-hand apps that offer buyer protection. Look out for scams by checking reviews of the seller for verification, and always make payment through the same app, and not via bank transfer as this offers the least protection.
Bargain prices can be too good to be true and limited offers may be trying to rush you into spending money quickly, so if you can, take your time and look to see what’s available elsewhere first.

Look for clues that someone or something may not be genuine online

Scammers use different tactics to target their victims, but there are some clues to look out for. Hard to find tickets or an amazing deal may be too good to be true, and anything pressuring you to make a decision quickly could also be a scam. You might spot scammers pretending to be someone trustworthy or using your emotions against you. Sometimes fear, guilt, or even love can pressure victims into making decisions without thinking them through.
Ultimately, if you’re contacted out of the blue or someone is asking you for money, or to share personal information (including pin numbers, passwords, or one-time security codes) there’s a good chance you’re being targeted by a scammer.

Reporting scams can help keep you and others safe

As well as speaking to a trusted adult, often the best thing to do is make a report.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if you’ve been scammed you can report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, fraud can be reported to Police Scotland by calling 101.
You may also need to report to your bank, or take another action like blocking your card.
If you’ve received a suspicious email, you can forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk
To report a suspicious text, forward it to 7726 and to report a call, use the same number but text the word ‘Call’ and the number the call was from.
Suspicious or fake websites can be reported online to the National Cyber Security Centre, and fake adverts can be reported online to the Advertising Standards Authority.
If you’ve spotted a scam on social media or an online marketplace, you can also report it directly via the app.

Our top scams to look out for

Fake giveaways and ticket scams

Fake giveaways online will try to trick victims into giving up personal information or money. If you’re entering a giveaway online, it’s safest to stick to official brand accounts and verified users. Carefully consider what they’re asking for in return for entry and a chance to win a prize – is it worth it?
If you’re contacted as the winner of a giveaway, check the account messaging you is the same one that hosted the competition and never pay for a prize or postage. A real giveaway won’t ask you to send them money and should only need the personal information required to transfer you the prize (e.g. an email or postage address).
Scammers also target music fans with fake tickets. These may be advertised in social media posts or even comments under content that fans of a band or artist might enjoy. Ticket scammers normally claim to have hard to find tickets at reasonable prices, often last-minute. If you’re buying tickets, it’s safest to do so through official resale apps that offer buyer protection. Avoid sending bank transfers in exchange for tickets and if someone’s putting you under pressure to buy, it’s probably a scam.

Phishing and smishing

Phishing is when a scammer ‘hooks’ somebody in by pretending to be a company or organisation. Smishing is the same idea but using SMS text messaging.
You may well have seen phishing before. Perhaps you received an email from a well-known company, but it looked a bit weird? Maybe the email address was wrong or you spotted a spelling mistake in the message. These are phishing messages.
Phishing messages are trying to collect your personal information, like passwords, phone numbers, email addresses or bank details. They might ask you directly for this information or they might ask you to click a link. The link will take you to a fake website or download malware or a virus on to your device.
Phishing can happen through phone calls, emails, texts, messages in games, social media or fake websites. If you spot something you think might be phishing, don’t click on it or reply. Instead, report it.
Forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
Forward phishing texts to 7726

Online financial sextortion

Sextortion is a type of blackmail when someone threatens to share nudes of someone unless the victim pays money or agrees to do something else, such as share more images.  
Sextortion is a crime and can be committed by individuals or by a group of people working together. One growing form of sextortion can also be described as a scam, where online criminals hope to trick their victims into paying money.
If you are targeted by sextortion, you are not alone and it’s not your fault. Take screenshots of any messages or information you have been sent and don’t delete the chat. Stop communication and report it. Tell a trusted adult and report to your local police or CEOP.
It can be difficult to talk about sextortion, but speaking to someone can help. You could ask a friend to support you when talking to an adult.
For more information about sextortion visit the Childnet website.