Smoothwall is a proud supporter of the UK Safer Internet Centre (UK SIC) and Safer Internet Day, which this year focuses on the theme: Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online.
According to the Digital Youth Index, 35% of young people, including 50% of over-16s, have experienced a scam online. To mark Safer Internet Day 2025, this article explores 3 online scams that impact young people, and provides practical advice on how schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts (MATs) can respond to keep students safe.
Online scams are efforts by bad actors on the internet to trick a person into handing over personal information, money, or compromising images and videos.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to online scams due to the significant amount of time they spend in digital spaces. They are more likely to trust information they see online and may not yet have developed the critical thinking skills needed to identify potential red flags. The fact that they are often more tech-savvy than adults can also lead young people to overestimate their ability to recognise scams.
The UK SIC has created this useful acrostic outlining the key features of online scams:
In addition to these warning signs, teachers and students should be on the lookout for scenarios in which:
Online scams can target people of all ages, social status and ability. Below we explore 3 common types of scam that target young people online.
Phishing scams “hook” a victim in by masquerading as an established company or organisation. They often start with a message that encourages a person to provide personal information or click on a link that takes them to a website where they can enter personal details.
The links lead to fake websites that allow scammers to collect the information, which can then be used to commit identity or financial theft. Phishing links may also contain malware which can infiltrate the victim’s device and steal valuable information such as usernames and passwords.
Example scenarios:
Catfishing is the act of pretending to be somebody else online. Scammers use this tactic to gain access to students in digital spaces and build a rapport with their targets. This enables them to establish a sense of trust, making it easier for them to manipulate their victims.
Scammers may create fake accounts or hack the accounts of real people in order to hide their identity. They often use pictures of stereotypically attractive people to draw victims in. Once communication has been established, they may encourage their victim to continue the interactions on a different platform - often one that is less regulated.
Example scenarios:
Sextortion is a form of blackmail whereby perpetrators threaten to share sexual material or information about a person unless they do as they say. It can be sexually or financially motivated. When targeting under-18s it is a form of child sexual abuse (CSA).
According to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the first half of 2024 saw a 19% increase in child sexual abuse reports linked to sextortion, compared to the same period in 2023. The reported cases impacted children as young as 11.
Example scenarios:
The Report Remove tool from the IWF and Childline can help victims of sextortion. It is a free service that allows under-18s in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves so they can be removed from the internet.
Digital citizenship lessons teach students how to be responsible users of digital devices. They’re an important addition to school curriculums in an age where digital devices are commonly used for learning.
Many of the foundational rules for safe internet use taught in such classes can help to protect students from being targeted by scammers in the first place. This includes measures such as creating strong passwords, using two-step authentication, setting profiles as private, and thinking twice before clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information.
Students should receive specific advice and information on scams. It’s important for them to be aware that:
Digital citizenship training should be an ongoing process, as the digital landscape is constantly changing and evolving. Smoothwall’s Online Safety Hub provides education settings with a vast library of resources to promote online safety and digital citizenship. It includes content for teachers, students and parents, and encourages meaningful conversations about online experiences.
When a student becomes aware that they have been targeted by a scammer, it is important for their safety that they cease all contact and report the incident to a trusted adult. Being scammed causes feelings of shame and fear, and these emotions can be manipulated by scammers to prevent their victims from accessing help. As a result, it is vital that schools have effective reporting systems in place that students feel comfortable using.
Online scams need to be dealt with sensitively. It’s important for adults to be supportive and make it clear that young people are not to blame if they fall victim to a scam. In school settings, students may want to write down their experiences rather than saying them aloud, or talk to a preferred teacher one-on-one.
Wellbeing platforms, such as Smoothwall Pulse, provide a regular safe space where students can share how they’re feeling and request help from a trusted adult. Check-ins take place on devices, providing a level of privacy that encourages even the quietest of students to speak up. Channels like this help schools foster a supportive environment where students feel confident enough to report potential scams.
Digital safeguarding technology protects students and networks from a range of digital risks, including online scams. Web filtering and digital monitoring in particular can empower schools to block potential scams from reaching students and quickly identify those that are able to bypass safeguarding provisions.
Real-time, content-aware filters analyse all web pages at the point of request. This means, for example, that a hacked website used for phishing purposes to steal personal information will be blocked - even if the site was legitimate just minutes before.
Human-moderated digital monitoring can quickly identify digital behaviours that indicate a person may be a victim of a scam. Keystrokes that signal a person is being threatened, coerced, or is sharing inappropriate content will trigger an alert and a screen capture will be taken. Medium and high level alerts are analysed by trained human moderators, who can decipher even coded language and quickly inform designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) that a student is at potential risk.
Safer Internet Day serves as an important reminder of the risks the online world poses to student safety and wellbeing. Let’s continue to work together to keep children safe and thriving in digital spaces.