Scams and Schemes

VICTORIA ISDCOMMON SENSE MEDIA

GRADE 6 : SCAMS AND SCHEMES

Essential Question

What is identity theft, and how can you protect

yourself from it?

Objectives

The students will be able to…Understand what identity theft is and why it

is important to guard against it.Learn to recognize strategies that scam

artists use to access private information.Learn how to guard against phishing and

identity theft.

Vocabulary

Scam: an attempt to trick someone, usually with the intention of stealing money or private informationIdentity theft: a type of crime in which your privateinformation is stolen and used for criminal activity

Vocabulary, cont.

Vulnerable: in a position that makes it easier for you to be harmed or attacked

Phishing: when people send you phony emails,pop-up messages, social media messages, texts, calls,or links to fake websites in order to hook you intogiving out your personal and financial information

Introduction: Warm-up

Do you know someone who has been scammed?

What happened?

Introduction: Warm-up

What is the purpose of a scam? What tricks

do people use to carry out a scam?

Introduction: Warm-up

Can people get scammed on the Internet?

How?

What Is Identity Theft?

People who scam don’t always get money from them directly

Use variety of strategies to trick people into giving out private information

Use information to access bank and credit card accounts

Even recreate someone’s identify Produce false documents (social security cards,

drivers’ licenses, etc.)

What Is Identity Theft?

Can you guess what kinds of personal information

identity thieves might look for?

What Is Identity Theft? Personal Information

Full nameDate of and place of birthCurrent/previous addresses/phone numbersDriver’s license or passport numbersAccount numbers, companies’ names (ex:

Amazon, iTunes, PayPal, Dillard’s)PasswordsSocial Security Number

Vulnerable

…Vulnerable: in a position that makes it easier for you to be harmed or attacked

Anyone on line is vulnerable!

How to Catch a Phish

How do you think identity thieves might try to get your information?

(Phishing: when people send you phony emails,pop-up messages, social media messages, texts,

calls,or links to fake websites in order to hook you into

giving out your personal and financial information)

How to Catch a Phish

How good are you a spotting potential scams?

Phishing Examples

Consumer Fraud Reporting Example 1

Phishing Examples

FacebookHuffington Post article, “Facebook Scams

You Need to Know About”

Protect Yourself from Online Scams

Protect yourself…follow the rules Avoid opening the message or email in the first place Don’t click on any links or download and attachments.

They might contain viruses or spyware. Don’t reply Mark as “junk mail” or “spam” for your email

provider, or report it to your social network site. If you are concerned about an account you have with a

company, contact its customer service by phone. Make sure you verify the company’s contact

information elsewhere online first.

Wrap-up

What kinds of information do identity thieves look for and

why?

Wrap-up

How do thieves try to get at your information?

Wrap-up

What can you do to avoid falling for online scams?

Wrap-up

You or your family can go to www.ftc.gov/idtheft for help if identity has been stolen

Forward spam emails to spam@uce.gov

Extension Activity

Try your luck with the Spam Scam Slam game

http://www.onguardonline.gov/media/game-0012-spam-scam-slam

Lesson Assessment

1. A type of crime in which your private information is stolen and used for criminalactivity is called:a) Identificationb) Identity theftc) Burglary

Lesson Assessment

1. A type of crime in which your private information is stolen and used for criminalactivity is called:a) Identificationb) Identity theftc) Burglary

Lesson Assessment

Evan sees the following message in his inbox:

Lesson Assessment

Which of the following is NOT a warning sign that this message is a scam:

a) The offer sounds too good to be trueb) It asks Evan for his private informationc) Evan is addressed as “Sir”

Lesson Assessment

Which of the following is NOT a warning sign that this message is a scam:

a) The offer sounds too good to be trueb) It asks Evan for his private informationc) Evan is addressed as “Sir”

Lesson Assessment

3. Sara finds a message on her phone that she thinks might be a scam. She should:a) Forward the message to her friends to see if they think it’s a scam toob) Reply and ask the sender not to send more mailc) Delete the message

Lesson Assessment

3. Sara finds a message on her phone that she thinks might be a scam. She should:a) Forward the message to her friends to see if they think it’s a scam toob) Reply and ask the sender not to send more mailc) Delete the message