Holiday Scams Targeting Children: How to Protect Your Family

Winter holidays are a time for joy and relaxation, but they can also be a risky period for families online. Children often spend more time on their devices—watching videos, playing games, and chatting with friends—while parents juggle a busy holiday schedule. This combination of increased screen time and reduced supervision creates a perfect storm for scammers to strike. 

Scammers know this. They ramp up their activity during the holiday season, targeting vulnerable users, including children and teens, who may be less experienced at spotting red flags.  

As a parent, understanding these risks is the first step to keeping your family safe. 

Examples of Holiday Scams Targeting Children and Teens—and How They Work 

1. Fake In-App Purchases in Games 

Many children enjoy mobile games with in-app purchases, especially during the holidays when they may receive gift cards as presents. Scammers create fake pop-up ads or links claiming to offer discounted game items, free skins, or extra lives. When children click on these links, they're often directed to phishing sites designed to steal their personal information or credit card details. 

2. Fraudulent Online Stores for Toys or Gadgets 

Scammers set up fake websites advertising trendy toys, gadgets, or limited-edition items at unbeatable prices. These sites look professional and legitimate, but once a child (or parent) enters payment details, they may never receive the product—or worse, they could lose money or expose sensitive financial information. 

3. Phishing Scams in Chat Apps or Social Media 

Teens who spend time on social media or messaging apps can be tricked by scammers posing as friends or influencers. These scammers send messages with links to fake contests, free gift cards, or exclusive deals– for example, the latest iPhone model for $25. Once clicked, the links may install malware, or their payment information and other personal data may be stolen and used by thieves. 

4. Holiday-Themed Games or App Scams 

Some scammers develop fake holiday-themed apps or games, promoting them as free or discounted. These apps may require downloads from unofficial sources and contain malware that can steal data or damage devices. 

5. Fake Charity Scams 

Children with big hearts can also fall victim to fake charity scams. Scammers create emotional pleas for donations, claiming to support causes like helping children or animals during the holidays. They target kids directly on social media or through email, urging them to send money or share the scam with others. 

6. Puppy Scams 

Scammers take advantage of holiday emotions by advertising puppies for sale that do not actually exist. They post listings featuring heartwarming photos and low prices on social media, fake websites, or classified ads to attract potential buyers.  

Once someone expresses interest, the scammer demands upfront payment, claiming it's for the puppy, along with additional "fees" for shipping or vaccinations. Payments are usually requested through non-traceable methods, such as wire transfers. After the money is sent, the scammer disappears, leaving the victim without a puppy. 

To avoid falling for puppy scams, always verify the seller's credibility, meet in person whenever possible, and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. 

Related: How to Protect Yourself from Online Pet Scams 

How to Protect Your Child from Online Scammers

Online scams can result in children's identity theft. This occurs when criminals combine a person's personal information with fabricated details to create a false identity. They use this fake identity to apply for items such as credit cards, loans, or government benefits. Children are especially vulnerable because these scams often go unnoticed until they reach an age where they can apply for credit themselves. 

Here's how you can protect your child from becoming a victim: 

1. Talk to Your Child About Scams 

Explain that not everyone online is trustworthy, even if they seem friendly. Teach them to recognize scams, such as deals that sound too good to be true or messages asking for personal information. Use relatable examples, like fake offers for free game items or gift cards, to make it easier for them to understand. Let them know they can always come to you if they click on a suspicious link or reveal personal information to a stranger. The sooner you know, the better.  

2. Use Bitdefender Scamio, our AI-powered tool dedicated to identifying scams. When unsure about an email, text, or social media ad, you can check it with Scamio on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, web browser or Discord for free! Copy/ paste a text or link, describe the situation, and upload the image or the QR code you want to verify. Scamio will analyze the data and tell you if anyone is trying to scam you.  

You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia and the UK. 

3. Supervise Online Purchases 

Make it a rule that your child must ask for your help and permission before buying anything online. Guide them in identifying safe websites and verifying deals. Show them how to look for secure sites by checking for "https" in the URL and reading reviews from legitimate sources. 

4. Use Parental Controls 

Use Bitdefender Parental Control to keep track of the apps your children download and how much time they spend on them. It helps you block suspicious websites, limit downloads, and alert you to unusual behavior. You can set internet time limits and get insights into your child's online activities.  

It's included in almost all Bitdefender paid security solutions; simply download it on your child's devices and start using it. 

5. Strengthen Their Account Security 

Help your child create strong, unique passwords for all their online accounts and teach them not to share passwords, even with friends. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible for extra protection. 

5. Review App Permissions 

Before your child downloads any app or game, check the permissions it requests. Avoid apps that ask for unnecessary access to things like location data or contact lists unless it's absolutely required for functionality. 

6. Check Devices Regularly 

Make it a habit to review your child's device for unusual apps, messages, or emails. If you find anything suspicious, talk to them calmly and explain the potential risks without creating fear. 

7. Protect Personal Information 

Remind your child never to share personal or family information online, including real name (encourage usernames instead), address, birth date, school name, Social Security number, phone number, payment card or bank account numbers, and passwords.  

8. Freeze Your Child's Credit 

Request a credit report from each credit bureau for your child, then freeze it. While this won't prevent identity theft, it stops companies from accessing the credit report, which can block scammers from opening accounts in your child's name. You can lift the freeze when your child is ready to apply for credit. 

If your child falls victim to an online scam, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Acting quickly can help minimize the damage and protect them from further harm.