More than 1,000 children and teenagers in the UK are scammed every month online, says research by Action Fraud. A new campaign has been launched to help stop young people being tricked by fake ads.
Oracy
The internet is clearly riddled with hidden threats. Aren’t you shocked that so many criminals seem to be getting away with scams? Isn’t it time governments took more control of what happens online? Shouldn’t we only allow technology that makes it easy for the police to track criminals? Or would such a crack-down come at too great a cost? Surely, part of the joy of the internet is that it offers users so much freedom? Isn’t it better to learn how to avoid scams than to over-regulate websites? What do you think?
Writing skills
Design your own poster or leaflet to warn young people about the dangers of online scammers. Make it funny or shocking or try some other technique to grab the reader’s attention. Whatever you choose, remember to use punchy, persuasive language to get your point across quickly and clearly.
Or
A good, simple, short story, such as one of Aesop’s fables, can often provide wisdom or a warning just as effectively as any promotional campaign. Write your own cautionary tale about someone (or some animal – many stories use animals instead of people) who gets tricked into handing over their money or their house keys to a criminal. Make it short and to the point. End with a clear, catchy moral or warning, such as ‘A fool and his money are soon parted’.
Investigate
Research and summarise up to five of the more common scams used to trick people these days. How do they work and why do people fall for them? Remember to ensure that you are getting your information from reliable sources.
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