A Fake Message: Who Is Writing to Me?

1. What your child learns and why

Recognises five signs: claimed authority, urgency, emotion, scarcity and news/season. Practises “stop — do not click — ask”, giving nothing away. This offers a way to pause and get help even when the sender is uncertain.

2. Three dinner questions

• Which words in a message push you to hurry?
• How does an offer of the last gift catch attention?
• How would you explain the three steps to a younger child?

3. 10 minutes together, no screen

Take paper and pencils. Invent a short message offering an incredible gift; use [link] instead of an address. The other person circles signs and explains their choices. Swap roles. Finish with a three-step card for a younger sibling.

4. What success looks like

Your child points to words showing a warning sign and explains: do not click, give nothing away, show a grown-up. There is no score or competition.

5. Common difficulties

Wants the gift → “I understand. Let us pause and check separately.” Notices different signs → discuss the wording; several signs can overlap. If your child has clicked, avoid blame and get help together.

6. Safety

Use fictional cards without real senders, brands or personal information; do not send them online. The adult checks through the organisation’s official website, using no contact details from the message, and handles reporting. “If something scares you, tell a grown-up you trust.”

7. Where to go next

Before: DB-IB-11 “Asking AI - and Checking” · Next: DB-IB-13 “My Data: Whose Is It and Who Sees It?”

You do not need to know the answers. Say: “Let us check together.”

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.