Media literacy: online scams
How media literacy can help you identify and avoid online scams.
- Part of
In this third instalment of our media literacy series, we delve into the world of online scams, a growing concern in our digital age.
Scammers use various tactics to deceive individuals, often leading to financial loss and theft of personal information. Understanding these tactics and knowing how to protect yourself and others is crucial.
Online scams
Fraudulent schemes encompass a wide range of deceptive activities including phishing emails, fake websites or profiles on social media or gaming platforms, and more.
Scams can take many forms, not just the ones we traditionally think of, such as an unexpected message claiming you've won a prize.
There has been an alarming rise in online financial sextortion. In the first half of 2024, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a partner in the UK Safer Internet Centre, reported a 19% increase in cases involving children under 18 compared to the same period in 2023.
The goal is usually to steal money, personal information or both. While the types of online scams vary, they often rely on convincing stories and high-pressure tactics to trick victims into acting quickly without thinking.
Common types of online scams
Phishing
Phishing refers to where attackers (cyber criminals) posing as a legitimate source target organisations or individuals by email, telephone or text message and attempt to entice them into clicking on an untrustworthy link or into providing sensitive data (for example passwords, banking details or other sensitive information).
Fake websites
These sites mimic real ones to trick you into entering sensitive information, such as bank details.
Social media scams
Fraudsters use social media platforms to spread fake offers, giveaways or investment opportunities. This is often done through the use of an impersonation account or fake profile, tricking users into providing personal information, making payments or clicking on malicious links that can lead to identity theft or financial loss.
Tech support scams
Scammers can pose as tech support agents, claiming your device has a problem and asking for remote access or payment for unnecessary services.
How to protect yourself
Online scams have become increasingly sophisticated. It isn’t always clear whether an email, website or message is genuine.
Understanding the tactics used by cyber criminals and how emerging technologies, like generative AI, can be misused to create more sophisticated online fraud and scams can help you stay alert.
Verify sources
Always check the legitimacy of emails, messages, and websites. Look for signs like poor spelling or grammar, suspicious URLs and unsolicited requests for personal information.
Use strong passwords
Create unique, complex passwords for different accounts and change them regularly.
Enable 2-factor authentication
This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
Be sceptical of unsolicited offers
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
Educate yourself
Stay informed about the latest scams and how they operate.
Further support
Reporting
If you encounter a potential scam, report it to the relevant authorities or platforms to help protect others. There are a range of reporting channels signposted on Hwb.
Action Fraud
Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, allows individuals and businesses to report fraud, scams and cyber crimes online or by phone. Action Fraud provides advice and support to victims, helping them understand the next steps and how to protect themselves in the future.
Cyber Aware
Cyber Aware, a national campaign led by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), aims to help individuals and businesses stay secure online by providing practical advice and promoting good cybersecurity practices.
NCSC Education and skills
NCSC Education and skills aims to enhance cybersecurity knowledge and skills across various educational levels and professional sectors.
Check a website
Check a website, an easy-to-use online tool, helps you to determine whether a website is likely to be legitimate or a scam before you visit it.
Resources and guidance
For more detailed guidance and resources on staying safe online, visit the Keeping safe online area on Hwb. Here, you will find comprehensive information on various online safety topics, including cyber crime and sextortion.
The ‘Advice for children and young people: online issues and worries’ section includes information to raise awareness of scams linked to online advertising, catfishing and impersonation.
Safer Internet Day resources
This year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) focuses on raising awareness about online scams and how to avoid them. The UK Safer Internet Centre has produced bilingual education packs on the SID theme of online scams for practitioners, filled with online safety activities for learners aged 3 to 18 and tips that can be shared with families.