A Fake Message: Who Is Writing to Me?
A message pushes you to hurry or promises an amazing gift? Pause. Do not click or give anything away. Show it to a grown-up.
For parents: a one-page guide — dinner questions and paper messages.
01Remember
Recall a time when you wondered whether to trust some text. Think, then open the answers.
What can you do when you are unsure about a message?
Stop and show it to a grown-up.
Must you hurry just because a message says “right now”?
No. Pause without clicking or giving anything away.
How can you check who is writing to you?
Show it to a grown-up who can check the sender separately.
02Story
In a made-up drawing club, a child receives a message: “Just for you! The last magical drawing kit is waiting. Open [link] to claim it.” The child is already imagining the colours. A hand moves towards the screen.
Then the child reads it again. Why is it the last gift? Why must something be opened to get it? The child leaves the message alone, without clicking or sending anything.
The child shows a grown-up: “I want it to be true, but look how it tempts me.” Together they find the words that raise hope and the claim that something is about to run out.
“You do not have to decide on your own,” says the grown-up. “Let us check separately who is behind it.” The child takes some paper and writes: “Stop. Do not click. Ask.”
We made up the story, club and message. You can pause even when you do not yet know whether a message is fake.
03Worked example
Look for these five warning signs. A message can contain several; it need not contain all five.
- Claims authority — Claims to speak for an official service or another authority.
- Pushes a deadline — Demands action now or threatens a consequence.
- Stirs a strong feeling — Tries to trigger fear, hope or curiosity.
- Offers something supposedly scarce — Says there is very little of something left.
- Uses news, an event or the season — Ties the offer to news, an event or the season.
Cloud Club Service: confirm right now or your access will stop. Give your personal information here: [link]
“Service” claims authority; “right now” creates urgency; losing access is meant to cause worry.
Decision: stop, do not open [link], give no information and show a grown-up. The signs are a reason to pause and get help checking.
04Try it now
This is our fictional simulation. There are no real links. Nothing here is sent or saved; there are no points or timer.
1 · Predict: Read the cards. Which one pushes you to hurry?
2 · Run: For each card, mark the signs and choose the calm next step. Then compare with the explanation.
3 · Change: Change your selections and choose the step again. If we remove “right now”, which other signs remain in the first card? No deadline does not mean you should click.
Without JavaScript: mark the signs on paper and compare with the explanations.
Explanation for card 1
“Service” claims authority; “right now” creates urgency; losing access is meant to cause worry.
Explanation for card 2
The prize raises hope; “only one” suggests scarcity.
Explanation for card 3
The autumn festival uses the season and an event; the secret surprise sparks curiosity.
05No screen
Take paper slips and a pencil. Write a short fictional message offering a gift that sounds too good to be true. Use no real senders, brands, information or addresses; write [link] for a link.
A friend circles words that show any of the five signs. Swap roles and say the three steps. Do not send the cards to anyone online.
06Make your own
My three steps
Write “Stop - do not click - ask” in your own words on paper for a younger sibling. Add “give nothing away” to the middle step. Draw a symbol for each step and explain when to use it. If you have no younger sibling, show the card to a grown-up.
07What I learned
- spot five warning signs in a suspicious message and choose to stop, avoid clicking, give nothing away and ask a grown-up.
- Stop - do not click - ask a grown-up
Check yourself
1. Which phrase creates urgency?
2. What do you do with an offer of the last amazing gift?
3. What do you give a suspicious sender?
Yours when you can name a warning sign and explain the three steps. No points, streaks or rankings.
08I have a question
Do you still have a question? Write it here. It goes to your parent, not to strangers. Your parent confirms their e-mail first.
The form is loading… If it does not appear, write your question on paper and show it to a parent or teacher.
·Sources
- Title: A Fake Message: Who Is Writing to Me? · Author: Children’s Library, East Accelerator Foundation. Original text, story and simulation. Rights: CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Facts: NCSC (UK), “How to spot a scam email, text message or call” · paraphrased from S1; source reviewed 5 September 2022, checked in the supplied source list on 22 October 2026. No licence stated; no source text reproduced.
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Children's Library, East Accelerator Foundation, 2026. You may share and adapt this lesson if you credit the author and keep the same licence. Learning is free forever.