Learn to stay safe from Phishing and Scams

Year 5 to 7 students

Never click on a link of a suspect email or message.

Source: Image from Google Education video

Scammers use email or text messages that look like they’re from a company you know or trust, in order to steal your passwords, account numbers, birth dates and/or addresses. These may look like they’re from a bank, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store. Once they obtain enough information, they will try to gain access to your email, bank, other accounts or steal your identity.

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment.

• they may say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts,

• or claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information.

• suggest you must confirm some personal information

• they may include an authentic-looking fake invoice

• or want you to click on a link to make a payment

• some announce you’re eligible to register for a government refund

• and many offer a coupon for free stuff

Always hold back on an email or message requesting personal information and contact (phone or email) the organisation directly by finding their contact details on their official website (not from the email itself). If the email proves to be a phishing scam, forward the email to the company represented and report it to the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

Question: What would you do if you noticed an unsafe link, post, text, or email?

Casper Pieters PhD Dip Ed is an author and educator who uses adventure narratives to enliven the ICT curriculum for young people. www.casperpieters.com