Parents: Talking to your kids about text scams

You’re not the only one getting scammy text messages about unpaid toll charges or issues with your Amazon account. Chances are your tweens and teens with phones are getting them, too. Sure, you can tell your kids to delete and never respond to unexpected texts. But if you want them to understand why, the FTC can help you make a game plan.

The next scam text you get could be a great way to start a conversation about how text scams work. Scammers impersonate real companies and agencies in text messages. Their goal? Get you to give them information like your Social Security or credit card number. Let your kids know why never to click links in unexpected text messages: not only are people not always who they say they are online, but clicking could lead you to a website that tries to steal your data. Make sure they know that sharing personal or financial information could lead to bigger problems, like identity theft, losing your money, or scammers getting access to your accounts.

Help kids know how to delete and report junk text messages on their phones. To turn it into a game, ask kids to show you the message first and explain how they knew it was a scam. Here’s your answer key — one point each time they correctly spot a scam:

• Scammers might pretend to be someone from school or a well-known business.

• Scammers say there’s a problem or prize to get you to respond. Not sure that problem or prize is real? Get help from a parent or trusted adult.

• Scammers use pressure so you don’t have time to think. Slow down.

• Scammers tell you to pay with cash, a gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment app. Paying in these ways makes it hard to get your money back.

Once your kid earns enough points, come up with a special treat to celebrate. Learn more about spam text messages at ftc.gov/textscams.