What can parents do to keep their children safe in an online environment?

Most fraud schemes have been in place for years and are generally well known to the public. You can teach your child how to protect themselves and try to match any suspicious message or encounter with a situation that looks like the actions of scammers using the following algorithms:

• If a child receives a text message stating that a transfer has been made in error and asking the child to return the funds that have allegedly been transferred, the child should simply not reply, even if the message is from a contact book user.
• If a message, even from an acquaintance, asks for urgent help, for example to transfer money, it is always necessary to verify the information from the original source by calling the user.
• If a child receives a message or push notification from an online bank about withdrawing money from an ATM, a child need to tell parents immediately.

If a child is asked to do something immediately, or is given a short time to think about it, it is most likely a scam.

Among the TOP-5 most visited resources by children on the internet are e-Commerce websites. This includes, for instance, online stores. It is natural for parents to be concerned about the amount of money a child can spend online. 

Here are some rules for teaching a child how to use electronic money:

• Tell a child about what money looks like in general and what money is in electronic form. 
• Set a fund withdrawal limit. You can work out how much a child can spend each day, for example on travel or school lunches, and then decide what daily limit you need to set. 
• Make small and regular transfers to the child's card, rather than putting a large amount on it all at once. 
• Explain to a child that bank card details (number, owner's name and surname, expiry date and CVV/CVC code, usually found on the back of the card) are strictly confidential and should not be disclosed to anyone. 

Explain to a child that they should not log in to online banking when connected to public Wi-Fi networks that are not password protected, such as on public transport, in cafes or at the cinema.

• Do not trust attractive offers, for example, if the platform looks suspicious, there are a lot of ads (banners) and visual elements that you did not notice before, the page address is slightly different from the real one, but you have been warned about this and assured that everything is fine, as it should be. It is very likely that you have come across a phishing website.
• Do not share your bank card details with anyone and do not call verification codes from SMS and push notifications.
• Do not click on any of the external links in the ads.
• Do not pay in advance for an item you have not yet received.

It is also possible to go shopping in the game world.

Many games, even free ones, contain in-game purchases. Additional options, such as game inventory, character appearance, and in-game resources, are paid for with real money. These points also need to be discussed with children on a regular basis, so that they understand that they do not have to buy everything at once and, in general, whether this or that purchase is necessary in the virtual world.

• Limit the possibility of such purchases from the device and do not link a bank card to a gaming account, at least until the child learns to manage money in an independent and responsible manner.

If the child has bought something without your permission, try to cancel the transaction by contacting the bank and writing to the game developer, explaining that the funds have been spent by a minor without the knowledge or involvement of the parents.

Many parents worry about discipline, how much the gadget will affect how their child spends their free time, whether they will skip school or sports, whether they will spend too much time on the Internet. The rules, worked out together with the child, are going to help you.

• Start by showing your child the basic features of a mobile device. For example, show your child how to turn the phone on and off, how to use the mobile Internet or connect to secure WI-FI, and how to add contacts. 
• Have an open and calm discussion about your child's digital experience from the start. A child will feel safe, knowing that he/she can talk to you about whatever happens, good or bad.
• Stay up to date with the latest trends and threats in the digital world and make sure you tell your child about them in a clear way. Look for more information online, for example on cyberbullying or digital skills, and on UNICEF social networks.
• Explain that anything the child posts on the Internet will remain there forever and may affect their reputation and opportunities in the future. 
• Explain to a child what privacy is and why they should not give out too much personal information on the Internet: do not tell anyone where he/she lives or is located, what school he/she attends and do not share his/her login details and passwords.
• Explain that friend requests from people the child does not know personally should be evaluated and rejected if possible. Children should understand that if a stranger on the Internet persistently tries to find out personal information about them or their parents, this is at least a cause for concern. 
• Encourage curiosity but avoid judging or intimidating the child. If you regularly talk to your children about their digital experiences, share your personal experiences, give advice and talk about possible risks in a friendly atmosphere, they will see you as an ally and will be more likely to turn to you for help when they face something suspicious online. 

Modern cybercriminals often target children because they are unaware of the basic rules of cybersecurity and how to spot a scam. And we, the adults, need to teach them how to stay safe online without waiting for bad things to happen.

• Teach your child to recognize fake ads, bogus surveys, lottery offers, and other schemes that are used to illegally collect personal data.
• Instill in your child the habit of being critical and cautious about everything on the Internet, think twice before clicking on a suspicious link, opening a questionable e-mail attachment or a message from a stranger. For example, did you know that the "Iloveyou" e-mail you received is a virus that will infect your device? 
• Have a discussion about the type of apps you allow your child to download to their gadget. For example, you can allow TikTok download on the condition that geolocation is off and the profile is private. 
• It is important to teach children the most important thing: if they don't like something online, or if something seems suspicious, they need to ask an adult they trust for help.

• Create a child account for the device. Each tablet and smartphone should be protected and configured according to the age of its owner.
• Install the most necessary applications. Install location software (such as online maps) and training programs. Don't forget to adjust the privacy settings for each application you have installed.
• Don't forget to install the parental control app. You can block unwanted content, track (and restrict) the time your child spends using certain applications, and know where they are at all times.

Tip Remember that you can only give your child a smartphone and introduce them to social networking if they have already shown an interest in real life and face-to-face communication. The child has to show that s/he can follow the rules that are not up for discussion: going to bed on time, doing exercises and homework, communicating with friends, eating right and relaxing.