Back to school means new classes, group chats, games, accounts, jobs, and plenty of time online.
Scammers go where you go and they’re getting better at looking like people, brands, and opportunities you trust. You don’t need to know every scam. You just need a few habits that make you harder to scam.
1. If they rush you, slow down
“Act now.” “Your account will be deleted.” “You have five minutes.”
Urgency is designed to stop you from thinking. When someone pushes you to act fast, pause before you click, reply, or pay. The more someone rushes you, the more reason you have to slow down.
2. Seeing isn’t always believing
A message, photo, voice, or even video can look like it came from someone you know. Accounts get hacked, identities get copied, and AI can imitate real people.
If a request feels unusual, verify it another way - ideally by contacting someone you already know and trust.
3. “Free” can get expensive
Free game currency. Concert tickets. Giveaways. Huge discounts.
Exciting offers make us act quickly. Before clicking or paying, look up the offer or seller yourself instead of trusting the link you were sent.
4. Keep the keys to your accounts to yourself
Passwords and verification codes are like keys to your accounts. Scammers may ask you to share one while pretending to be a friend, a company, or someone trying to help.
Never share a password or verification code. If someone asks for one, stop and verify the request another way.
5. Secrets are a red flag
“Don’t tell your parents.” “Keep this between us.” “You’ll get in trouble if anyone finds out.”
Scammers use secrecy to stop other people from helping you. If someone tells you to hide a conversation or request, tell someone you trust.
6. Scams work on smart people, too
Scammers don’t need you to be careless - just distracted, excited, worried, or in a hurry. They’re good at exploiting normal human reactions.
Don’t assume it can’t happen to you. Being confident online is good. Checking anyway is smarter.
7. A second opinion is a superpower
Something feels off? Show it to someone.
A parent, friend, teacher, sibling, or another trusted person may notice something you missed. You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
8. A job shouldn’t cost you money
A great job, online gig, or “easy money” offer may not be what it seems.
Never pay to get paid. Be suspicious if someone asks you to send money first, deposit a check and send some back, or move money for them.
9. A private photo should never become a threat
Someone may ask for a private photo, or claim they already have one, and threaten to share it unless you pay or send more.
Don’t pay and don’t handle it alone. Stop responding and tell a trusted adult, even if you already shared something.
10. It’s never too late to tell someone
Clicked a bad link? Sent money? Shared information? Responding to someone you now think was fake?
Don’t let embarrassment keep you quiet. The scammer is the one doing something wrong, not you. The sooner you tell someone you trust, the sooner they can help.
Remember three things
Pause. Check. Tell.
Pause when someone creates urgency or a strong emotion.
Check the person, request, or offer another way.
Tell someone you trust when something doesn’t feel right, even if you already responded.
Scams will change. These habits don’t have to.
Created by Charm Security as part of a back-to-school community initiative.
