A 14-year-old tragically took their life after following the guidance of an AI chatbot. Another family is taking legal action against the same platform, Character AI, after it allegedly advised an autistic 14-year-old to harm his parents. Additionally, it placed an 11-year-old in contact with inappropriate sexual material.

These incidents highlight how susceptible youth are to online threats, but AI is not the only culprit.

The FBI reports a staggering 2,500% rise in monetary losses due to scams among teenagers over a recent five-year period. This is compared to an 805% increase among seniors. While it’s concerning for all age groups, the situation for teens is particularly alarming.

So, why are teenagers being specifically targeted? Because scammers now have more ways than ever to reach them. If you talk to anyone born between 1996 and 2010, you’ll see this is a serious issue.

The most common scams to be aware of

Influencer Impersonation: If a young person in your life looks up to an online influencer, they can become an easy target. Scammers can create fake accounts that mimic real influencers, conduct fake contests, and deceive eager fans into providing personal information (or even money) in exchange for non-existent prizes.

Pro tip: Encourage your teens to stick with verified accounts that have a significant number of followers. Be cautious of smaller accounts, as they are often scams. Never share financial details or money through direct messages.

Romantic Scams: This classic approach remains effective. Scammers often steal images of attractive individuals and flirt online, quickly expressing affection before asking for money, gifts, or sensitive information.

Pro tip: Use a reverse image search to check if the individual’s photos appear elsewhere on the internet. If they avoid video chats or in-person meetings, that’s a warning sign.

Deepfakes are becoming alarmingly easy to create. Have a conversation with your children.

Requests for Photos: This is where unsuitable content meets blackmail. A scammer may share explicit images and ask for reciprocation. Once the victim sends their own image, the manipulator may threaten to release it unless a ransom is paid.

Imagine the trauma of dealing with such a situation at any age, but especially during the vulnerability of adolescence. There are heartbreaking cases, like a family who lost their son to suicide after he fell victim to this exact scenario. Unfortunately, this is all too common.

Pro tip: Talk openly with your children about the dangers of sharing images online. Advise them against sending explicit content, even if they trust the person they are communicating with. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

“You’ve won!” Not: This scam especially targets younger teens, tricking them into disclosing credit card information or downloading harmful software under the pretense of winning prizes from their favorite games.

Pro tip: Always make purchases or download apps through official app stores—no exchanges or private transactions.

How can you help your children?

The internet is an incredible tool for information, creativity, and entertainment, but we can’t ignore the dangers that exist. Scammers and predators are exceptionally skilled at manipulation, and kids can quickly become targets. The key for parents is maintaining open and honest communication.

When my son was younger, I shared age-appropriate stories about online risks. We discussed the dangers in a clear manner he could grasp. He learned that if anything or anyone made him feel uneasy, he could always come to me for support, without fear of reprimand.

Trust is paramount: children must feel they won’t face consequences for being tricked. Today’s online predators are clever, and scammers know precisely how to gain a child’s trust. If your child is approached, it is never their fault.

Here’s a free tech safety agreement you can sign together to help kickstart conversations about electronic use.

Parents’ action plan

Remember when you used to bend the rules as a kid? Kids today can easily bypass parental controls and even lie about their age to access inappropriate content.

Best apps and devices for monitoring your child, from preschool through teenage years

Establish clear rules regarding screen time and device usage, and adjust them as your child develops. Here are some simple steps you can undertake:

◾ Know their phone’s passcode: You should have access to their device whenever necessary. Even if your monitoring is infrequent, they need to be aware that it’s possible.

◾ Set boundaries: Utilize built-in features to track the time spent on applications and employ content filters to restrict exposure to unsuitable content.

◾ “Friend” or “Follow” them: Keep connected on social media to stay informed about their community and interactions. If there isn’t an open dialogue, they may find ways to evade your supervision.

◾ Understand the unique configurations: You have the ability to connect to your child’s accounts on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube.

Your best defense is to be the primary resource for your child when they need help or guidance. Make sure they are aware that you are always available to listen, no matter the situation. This provides a genuine sense of security.