Remember: A scam hurries you or asks for a link, a code or money. Stop, and tell a grown-up. You are never in trouble for telling.
Zoe's text
Read the story first, then answer.
A text about a parcelZoe was ten, and her birthday was on Saturday. Gran had said on a video call, "I am sending you a birthday parcel, and the postage is all paid, so there is nothing to do." On Thursday a text arrived: "Your parcel is stuck. Tap the link to fix it. Pay a fee in one hour, or the parcel goes back." It had a round logo and it said hello to Zoe by name. Her little brother Theo shouted, "Pay it, pay it!" But Zoe remembered what Gran had said, and she did not tap the link. She carried the tablet to Mom, who said, "Well done for stopping." Mom opened the parcel app the family already used. It showed the parcel on its way, with no fee at all. On Monday Zoe's friend Leo said, "My text asked me to send back the code they just sent me." Zoe said, "A code is a key to your account, so keep it!" Leo showed his dad.
1
Gran said the postage was all paid. Why was the text about a fee odd?
It did not match what Gran had saidIt had Zoe's name in itIt had a round logo
2
A logo and your name in a text show that the text is real.
TrueFalse
3
Look at the two texts. Which one has tells, the parts made to trick you?
Text A: a cake photo from GranText B: pay a fee, tap the linkBoth of them
4
Join each part of the text to the kind of tell it is.
1In one hour, or it goes back
2Tap the link to fix it
3Pay a fee
4Send us the code
AA link in a surprise message
BA request for money
CHurry
DA request for a code
5
Leo's text asked him to send back a , which is a key to his account.
photojokecode
6
Zoe was in trouble for almost tapping the link.
TrueFalse
What would you do?
7
Zoe gets a text that hurries her. Number what to do, first to last.
Stop, and do not tap the link
Show a grown-up
Report the text as junk with a grown-up
The grown-up checks in an app the family knows
8
Mom wanted to check the real way. What did she use?
The link in the textA number in the textThe parcel app the family already used
9
If you reply to a scam text, you can tell the scammer your number is real.
TrueFalse
10
Circle every tell in a message that says: You won a holiday! Reply in one hour!
A prize you never entered forHurry: reply in one hourIt is a text, and texts are always tricksIt says hello to you by name
11
Leo says: "The code is right there on my screen, so I can type it back." What is the mistake?
A code is a key to my account, so I keep it and show a grown-upHe should type it back fasterHe should reply to ask who it is
12
In your own words, write one thing you could tell a friend whose text says "Hurry!" and has a link.
13
Draw yourself and a grown-up looking at a text on a tablet. Show who has their thumb on the link.
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
Spot the scam
1It did not match what Gran had said When a message does not match what you know, stop. A name and a logo prove nothing, because anyone can copy them.
2False Anyone can copy a logo or find your name. Look at what the message asks you to do.
3Text B: pay a fee, tap the link Text B hurries Zoe, has a link and asks for money. Gran's cake photo asks for nothing, so it has no tell.
41-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D Hurry, a link, money and a code are four tells. A scammer wants you to act before you think.
5code A code is a key to your account. Keep it, and show a grown-up.
6False Mom said, well done for stopping. Zoe stopped and told a grown-up, and that is what matters.
71, 2, 4, 3 Stop first. Then show a grown-up, who checks the real way, and last report it as junk together.
8The parcel app the family already used The real way is never the link in the message. It is an app or number you already know.
9True A reply can tell a scammer your number is real, so do not reply. Show a grown-up.
10A prize you never entered for, Hurry: reply in one hour A prize you never entered for and hurry are both tells. A name is not a tell, and not every text is a scam.
11A code is a key to my account, so I keep it and show a grown-up A code that was sent to you stays with you. Typing it back lets a scammer in.
12Your own words: a grown-up reads it.
Mark each answer, count the right ones and write the score on the sheet.