Financial Literacy: Scam Detection and Consumer Protection
Recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and knowing your rights
Financial Literacy: Scam Detection and Consumer Protection
Recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and knowing your rights
Financial Literacy - Grade 6-8
- 1
You get a text message that says, "Your bank account is locked. Click this link now and enter your password to fix it." Name two warning signs that this could be a scam.
Look for pressure, links, and requests for private information.
Two warning signs are that the message creates urgency and asks you to click a link and enter your password. A real bank should not ask for your password through a text link. - 2
A website selling sneakers says they are 90 percent off for the next 5 minutes only. It has spelling mistakes and no return policy listed. What should you do before buying?
You should not rush to buy. You should check whether the website is trustworthy by looking for reviews, a clear return policy, secure payment options, and a real business address or customer service contact. - 3
Explain the difference between personal information and public information. Give one example of each.
Think about what could help someone pretend to be you.
Personal information can identify you or help someone access your accounts, such as your password, address, or debit card number. Public information is information that is meant to be shared widely, such as a store's phone number or a public school website. - 4
You receive an email that looks like it is from a gaming company. It says you won free coins and asks for your account login. What is the safest response?
The safest response is to not click the link or enter your login. You should go directly to the official gaming website or app and check your account there. - 5
A caller says they are from the government and that your family must pay a fine immediately using gift cards. Explain why this is suspicious.
Think about whether gift cards are a normal way to pay official bills.
This is suspicious because scammers often demand immediate payment and ask for gift cards. Real government agencies do not require payment by gift card over the phone. - 6
List three types of information you should never share with someone who contacts you unexpectedly online or by phone.
You should not share passwords, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, debit or credit card numbers, verification codes, or your full home address with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. - 7
A social media message says, "Send me $20 today and I will send you $200 tomorrow. Guaranteed." Identify the type of scam warning sign shown here and explain it.
Compare the promise to what usually happens in real life.
The warning sign is a promise that sounds too good to be true. Scammers often promise easy money or guaranteed rewards to trick people into sending money first. - 8
Look at this simple checkout page. It asks for your name, shipping address, card number, and school login password. Which requested item does not belong, and why?
The school login password does not belong. A store does not need a school password to process an order, and asking for unrelated passwords is a scam warning sign. - 9
What does it mean to verify a message before responding? Describe one way to verify a message from a bank, store, or other company.
Use contact information you find yourself from a trusted source.
To verify a message means to check whether it is real before you respond. One way is to contact the company using the phone number or website printed on an official card, statement, or receipt instead of using links or numbers in the message. - 10
A free app asks for permission to access your location, contacts, camera, microphone, and payment information, even though it is only a flashlight app. What consumer protection choice should you make?
You should avoid installing the app or deny unnecessary permissions. A flashlight app does not need access to contacts or payment information, so the request is a privacy warning sign. - 11
Your friend shares a link to a contest that says everyone who enters will win a new tablet. It asks for your full name, birthday, address, and a small shipping fee. What risks are present?
Consider both money loss and information loss.
The risks include losing the shipping fee and giving away personal information that could be used for identity theft or more scams. The promise that everyone wins is also a warning sign. - 12
Define identity theft in your own words and give one example of how a scammer might try to collect information for identity theft.
Identity theft is when someone uses another person's personal information without permission, often to open accounts, make purchases, or pretend to be that person. A scammer might collect information through a fake email asking for a password, birthdate, or card number. - 13
Read the return policy: "All sales are final. No refunds, no exchanges, no exceptions. Company address not provided." What should a careful shopper think about before buying?
A return policy can affect what happens after you pay.
A careful shopper should understand that they may not get their money back if the item is wrong, broken, or never arrives. The missing company address also makes it harder to contact the seller, so buying from this seller is risky. - 14
Create a safe action plan for this situation: You clicked a suspicious link but did not enter any information. Write two steps you should take next.
You should close the page and not enter any information. You should also tell a trusted adult, teacher, or parent and consider running a security check or changing passwords if you think an account may be at risk. - 15
The chart shows four messages: an urgent bank text, a gift card payment call, a normal receipt from a store where you just shopped, and a prize message from an unknown account. Choose the two messages most likely to be scams and explain why.
Look for urgency, unknown senders, and unusual payment methods.
The urgent bank text and the gift card payment call are most likely to be scams because they use pressure, ask for unsafe action, or request unusual payment. The prize message from an unknown account may also be suspicious, especially if it asks for money or personal information.