Spotting a Scam

Life Skills · Money & Finance · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Why should you never share your password with someone online?
- Passwords need to be typed exactly right
- They could use it to get into your accounts
- Only adults are allowed to have passwords
Which of these is a warning sign of a scam?
- A message that asks for your home address and bank details
- A birthday card from your grandma
- A weather app telling you it will rain
If you get a strange message asking you to click a link, you should click it to see what it is.
Circle one: True False
A website pop-up asks you to type in your bank card number to 'verify your account.' What should you do?
- Never enter it there, and tell an adult
- Type it in quickly so the account stays safe
- Enter it, but use a fake name instead
Mia gets a message that says 'Reply in the next 5 minutes or you'll lose this offer forever!' What warning sign is this?
- It is written in capital letters
- It came from a phone number
- Urgency, it is rushing her to act fast
If a friend forwards you a strange link that looks like a scam, the right move is to tell a trusted adult before clicking it.
Circle one: True False
You get an email that looks like it's from your school, asking you to enter your home address to 'confirm your spot.' What is the safest first step?
- Reply asking why they need your address
- Enter your address since it looks official
- Don't click anything, and ask a trusted adult to check if it's real
Leo says: 'This message says I won money, so it must be true, because why would someone lie about that?' What is wrong with Leo's thinking?
- Leo is right, prize messages are always true
- Scammers often lie about prizes to trick people into giving details
- Only emails can be scams, not texts

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Spotting a Scam W1-mt_W5euSyU2sO-s1

They could use it to get into your accounts · Anyone who has your password can pretend to be you and take your information or money.
A message that asks for your home address and bank details · Scams often ask for personal details like your address or bank number.
False · Never click a suspicious link. Tell a trusted adult instead.
Never enter it there, and tell an adult · Never share bank details through a message, pop-up, or link. Real companies do not ask this way.
Urgency, it is rushing her to act fast · Scams often create urgency so you act before thinking it through.
True · Even from a friend, a strange link could be part of a scam. Check with an adult first.
Don't click anything, and ask a trusted adult to check if it's real · Even official-looking messages can be scams. Always check with a trusted adult before responding.
Scammers often lie about prizes to trick people into giving details · Scammers often promise big prizes because that gets people excited and less careful.