---
title: "Scams & Online Safety"
description: "Recognising financial scams and tricks; phishing emails and fake websites; protecting personal and financial information online; 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably is'"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/scams-and-online-safety-mt_W5euSyU2sO
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/scams-and-online-safety-mt_W5euSyU2sO.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Scams & Online Safety

Recognising financial scams and tricks; phishing emails and fake websites; protecting personal and financial information online; 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably is'

Subject: Life Skills · Area: Money & Finance · Ages 9 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/scams-and-online-safety-mt_W5euSyU2sO

## Ready when they can

- Identify at least two warning signs of a scam (asking for personal details, too-good-to-be-true offers, urgency)
- Explain why you should never share passwords or bank details online
- Describe what to do if they receive a suspicious message or email (don't click, tell an adult)

## Lesson: Spotting a Scam

A scam is a trick. Someone tries to get your money, your passwords, or your personal details by lying to you. Scams often show up as a message, an email, or a pop-up on a screen.

**Example.** Zara gets a message: 'You've won a new phone! Click here and enter your name, address, and bank card number to claim it.' The message asks for personal details and promises something amazing for nothing. That is a scam.

**Tip.** Three warning signs of a scam: it asks for personal details, it promises something too good to be true, and it rushes you to act fast, 'before it's too late'.

*(drawing: If a message looks like a scam, follow these steps in order.)*

**Tip.** Never type your passwords or bank details into a message or website someone sent you. A real company will never ask for your password by email or text.

Spotting a scam is only half of it. The other half is what you do next. Stop before you tap anything. Do not click the link, do not reply, and do not type in any details, even when the message looks official or arrives from a friend's account. Then tell an adult you trust and look at it together. Nothing bad happens from waiting, and a real message will still be there afterwards.

**Recap.** A scam tricks you into giving away money or details. Stop, don't click, and tell an adult.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Looking After Money](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/looking-after-money-mt_FNSeo9_T2Z)
- [Ways to Pay](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/ways-to-pay-mt_K8_RYIvrTV)
- [Deepfakes and AI-Generated Content](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/deepfakes-and-ai-generated-content-mt_tzMr83pS8v)

## Opens up

- [The Four Moves Behind a Scam](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/the-four-moves-behind-a-scam-mt_0H9a6qv2XL)
- [AI Data Collection and Privacy](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/ai-data-collection-and-privacy-mt_HopZomN12L)