Remember: Nobody real asks you to pay in gift cards. Stop and tell a grown-up. You are never in trouble for telling.
Dara and the message
Read the story first, then answer.
Gift cards, a hurry and a secretOne rainy evening, Dara was doing her homework while Dad sat beside her. Bzzz! Dad's phone buzzed. The message said it was from Dad's boss, and it even used her name. "Buy four gift cards and send me the numbers on the back. I need them within the hour. Do not tell anyone!" Dad wanted to help his boss, so he said, "Come on, Dara, we are going to the shop." At the rack of gift cards, something about the message nagged at Dara. "Dad, wait," she said. "Why would your boss want it kept secret, and why gift cards?" Dad put the cards back and bought nothing. He called his boss on his usual number, not the one in the message, and she said, "I did not send you any message!" The next day, Dara's cousin Femi saw a box on her tablet: "Call this number and pay with gift cards. Do not tell your family." It had a timer with only a few minutes left. "Gift cards, a hurry and a secret," said Dara, "just like Dad's message!" They showed Dara's mom. On Saturday, Gran gave Dara a book gift card in an envelope, in person. That was a real gift.
1
The three signs are gift cards, a hurry and a .
songjokesecret
2
The number on the back of a gift card works like , so anyone who has it can spend it fast.
3
Number what happened, first to last.
Dara said, "Dad, wait"
Dad hurried to the shop
Dad's phone buzzed with a message
Dad called his boss on a number he knew
4
Dad was in trouble for nearly buying the cards.
TrueFalse
Scam or real gift?
5
Look at the table. Which one is a real gift?
The boss messageFemi's pop-upGran's card
6
Join each line to the sign it is.
1Within the hour
2Do not tell anyone
3Buy four gift cards
4Only a few minutes left
Aa hurry
Ba secret
Cpaying in gift cards
Da timer: also a hurry
7
Gift cards are only ever used in scams.
TrueFalse
8
Dad thought: "It uses my boss's name, so it must be real." What is the mistake?
Names are always proofA message can use a real name, but that does not make it realBosses never send messages
9
Circle every sign of a scam.
A pop-up that wants gift cardsA book card from your aunt, given in personA timer that says act nowA line that says tell no oneA prize card handed to you at the school fair
10
Femi's box says to call the number in it. What should she do instead?
Call it quickly before time runs outStop, show a grown-up, and check on a number they already knowReply to ask who it is
11
Stretch: A friend's tablet shows a box that says to pay with gift cards. Write what you would say to your friend.
12
Draw a hand that says wait.
Scan the code at the top to mark this sheet on screenTake a photo of your answers or type them. It is marked for you automatically, and your score is kept.
Answer key · Set A
Gift card scams
1secret Gift cards, a hurry and a secret: when you see all three, stop and tell a grown-up.
2cash That is why scammers love them. Once it is spent, the money is very hard to get back.
33, 2, 1, 4 Dara spoke up in the shop, and Dad put the cards back and called his boss on his usual number.
4False Dad said, "Nobody is in trouble. This trick fools lots of grown-ups."
5Gran's card Gran gave her card in person, with no hurry and no secret. The other two had all three signs.
61-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D A time limit is a hurry, "do not tell" is a secret, and a request for cards is the gift card sign.
7False Gift cards are fine as presents, like Gran's, given in person with no hurry.
8A message can use a real name, but that does not make it real A message can use a real name. Check the real way, on a number you already know.
9A pop-up that wants gift cards, A timer that says act now, A line that says tell no one A pop-up wanting cards, a timer and "tell no one" are signs. A card given in person is a real gift.
10Stop, show a grown-up, and check on a number they already know Never use the message's number. Stop, tell a grown-up and check the real way.
11Your own words: a grown-up reads it.
Mark each answer, count the right ones and write the score on the sheet.