Decoding Scam Tactics

Simple breakdown of scam tactics and protective habits

"Bro free skins event, log in on this link before tonight 🔥"

Your son gets a message from his teammate from school. He trusts him.

Gaming scams don’t always come from strangers. A message might come from a friend’s hacked account, or look like it’s from someone your child already trusts.¹ From there, it might rush your child, offer them something they want, or push them to click before they think.

You’ve probably heard this advice before: passwords and one-time codes should never be shared in response to an unexpected message.² Sounds obvious, right? It is, only until the message looks convincing enough.

The good news is that most scams rely on a handful of familiar tactics. Once you know what to look for, they become much easier to spot.

5 warning signs to look out for

Hurry: ‘Ends in 10 minutes.’ A countdown makes it harder to stop and check.
Trust: It appears to come from a friend, a game moderator, or an account using the game’s official logo.
Want: It’s something your child really wants, especially if it’s being offered for free or at an unusually low price.
Secret: ‘Private group only.’ ‘Don't tell anyone or they'll patch it.’
Move elsewhere: ‘Log in here.’ ‘Add me on another app.’ ‘Send me the code you just got.’

⭐IRL: Would your child hand over your bike to someone who promises to bring it straight back? Your password and one-time codes deserve the same care, because once someone has them, they can ride off with your account.

Where your child might see scams

Your child might come across a scam through a game chat, a message from another player, a livestream or a link someone shares. Be especially careful if someone asks your child to send an in-game item first, promising to send something in return.

If your child has responded to a scam

If your child has shared information, sent something, made a payment or taken another action in response to a scam, here’s what to do next:

Change the compromised password, and any other account using the same password.^1,2
Turn on 2-Factor Authentication.²
Contact the game’s official support through the game or its official website.¹
If the account was compromised, warn friends not to click links sent from it.¹
Save screenshots and report the messages or account.
If money or bank details were involved, contact your bank immediately and call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 for advice.³

Make it a family habit to pause & check

Children may hesitate to tell you what happened, especially if they’re worried they’ll get into trouble. Remind your child that scams catch adults out too.⁴ It can make it easier for them to tell you when something has happened instead of hiding it.

‘Why did you click it?’ can make them feel embarrassed about telling you next time. Try ‘Let’s see what happened’ instead, so you can work through it together.

Rather than expecting your child to spot every suspicious link on their own, make checking together part of your family routine: ‘If you’re not sure, show me first.’ You can also use the STOP steps from the Parent Handbook when a message doesn’t feel right.

The next scam may look different from this one. The habit stays the same: pause, check and ask before you act.

Keep Reading: Resources for Parents