Online Scams Are Targeting Kids — Here’s How Privacy Habits Can Help Stop Them

From fake websites to AI voice scams, here’s what’s targeting kids in 2026 — and 10 habits that help keep them safe.

Key Takeaways

• Your child’s data is always in play. Every app, game, and online store collects personal information — often more than you’d expect.
• Scams are smarter in 2026. AI tools can create fake websites, clone voices, and mimic trusted brands with alarming accuracy.
• Check before you buy. Look for HTTPS and a padlock icon before entering payment info. Buy game currency only through the game’s official app — never an outside link.
• Fake sites have tells. Lookalike URLs, new domain ages, missing contact pages, and frame sites are all red flags.
• 2FA blocks 99.9% of automated account-takeover attacks. Turn it on for email, gaming, and social media today.
• Set a family code word. AI can clone voices. A private phrase only your family knows defends against impersonation scams.
• Keep the conversation open. Kids who feel safe coming to you are far less likely to let a scam spiral.

In 2026, AI-powered scams can mimic trusted brands, generate fake websites in minutes, and impersonate friends or family. Helping your child understand online privacy isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s one of the most practical life skills you can give them.

What is online privacy?

Online privacy is your ability to control what personal information you share, with whom, and how it’s used. That means the obvious (name, address, phone number, photos) and the less obvious: browsing habits, search history, device type, and how long your child looks at something.

Every digital touchpoint your child uses — social media, gaming platforms, streaming, school portals, online stores — involves data. Understanding that is the first step to safer choices.

How is my personal information collected online?

Data is collected every time your child signs up for an app, visits a website, or plays a game — sometimes with consent, often without thinking twice.

Cookies and trackers follow your child across websites, building an ad profile. Account registrations capture name, email, birthdate, and payment info that companies can share with third parties. App permissions frequently go well beyond what an app needs; Bright Canary found nearly 200 AI chatbot apps have unsecured databases that expose family data. Social media activity (likes, comments, pauses) builds a surprisingly detailed picture of your child’s vulnerabilities. Online quizzes are often designed to harvest exactly the details that help scammers craft convincing attacks.

Why online privacy matters for kids and teens

Privacy protects your child’s identity, reputation, safety, and money.

AI-powered scams cost more than 22,000 victims an estimated $890 million in a single year, with teenagers under 17 identified as a key target by the FBI. Closer to home, kids on platforms have lost hundreds of dollars to gaming scams that looked completely real.

When personal information falls into the wrong hands, accounts get stolen, identities get used to apply for credit, and hard-earned money disappears. Most of these risks are preventable — and the habits your child builds now will serve them long after they’ve outgrown Mydoh.

How to talk to your kids about online privacy

Make it an ongoing check-in, not a one-time lecture.

Start with curiosity. Ask what apps they’re using and who they talk to. You’ll learn a lot and they’ll feel heard rather than policed.

Use real examples. A news story about a gaming scam lands differently than a hypothetical warning.

Make it a team effort. Reviewing privacy settings together signals that you both take security seriously.

Set a family code word. Cybersecurity researchers and the FTC recommend a private phrase your family can use to verify an unexpected “we’re in trouble” call is actually real — AI voice cloning makes this essential in 2026.

Keep the door open. No judgment, every time. Kids who feel safe reporting a problem are far less likely to let one spiral.

Quick tip: Any unexpected request involving money, passwords, or personal content gets verified through a number you already have — never one provided in the message.

10 ways kids can help protect their online privacy

1. Set family rules and online boundaries

Agree on which platforms are allowed, who your child can chat with, and what’s never shared without asking. F-Secure’s 2026 guide recommends treating public social media as a privilege earned over time, not a given. Written agreements work best when your kids help write them.

2. Use privacy settings (Updated 2026)

Settings are rarely “private” by default. Go through your child’s accounts together — who can see posts, who can make contact, what data is shared. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County offers a platform-by-platform parent checklist. Revisit every few months — platforms change their options regularly.

3. Be careful about sharing personal information

Real name, school, sports team, birthday, and pet names can all be used to guess passwords or craft phishing messages. Rule of thumb: if it could help a stranger find you in real life, keep it private. Photos matter too — images carry hidden EXIF location data revealing exactly where and when they were taken.

4. Turn off GPS and location services

Set most apps to “never” or “only while using.” Location sharing on social media should be off by default. Your child can share they were at a game without broadcasting real-time GPS coordinates.

5. Be smart with passwords (Updated 2026)

AI tools can guess simple passwords in seconds. Use a different password for every account, make them long and random, and use a password manager to keep track. Never share passwords with friends — friendships change, but exposed accounts linger.

6. Protect your family’s personal network

Change your router’s admin password from the factory default, use WPA3 encryption (or WPA2 minimum), and keep the network name free of your address or family name. A separate guest network for smart home devices and gaming consoles limits the damage if one device is compromised.

7. Be wary of public WiFi

Fine for casual browsing — never for logging in or shopping. Canada’s Centre for Cyber Security recommends saving transactions for a private network. A VPN adds an extra layer for the whole family.

8. Skip the online quizzes

Fun “which character are you?” quizzes often harvest security question answers — first pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, favourite team. That data gets sold to brokers or used to build scam profiles. If it asks personal questions, skip it.

9. Purchase only from trusted, secure sites

Fake online stores look more convincing than ever — real logos, steep discounts, then no delivery or stolen payment details. Before your child buys anything online:

• Check for HTTPS and the padlock. Canada’s Centre for Cyber Security says a missing padlock means data isn’t secure — exit immediately.
• Stick to known retailers. ShopOnline.ca’s 2026 guide recommends checking BBB.ca or Trustpilot for unfamiliar stores.
• Treat too-good deals as a red flag. Deep discounts on consoles, sneakers, or limited gear are a classic scam signal.
• Buy game currency inside the game only. Any site offering discounted game currency outside the official app is a scam — every time.
• Don’t save payment details on your child’s device. Use a prepaid card like a Mydoh card — it caps the damage if something goes wrong.

10. Know how to spot fake sites and frame domains

Scam websites in 2026 can copy logos, colour palettes, and even customer reviews. The red flags are there — if you know what to look for.

Report fake sites to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Read the full URL. Fraudulent domains swap characters or use endings like “.shop” or “.co” instead of “.com” or “.ca.” On mobile, shortened URLs make this even easier to miss.

Check domain age with a free tool like Whois. A “major brand” site registered last week is a hard no.

Watch for frame sites — a fake URL wrapped around a real-looking layout, used for fake login pages. Always type web addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking links in DMs, emails, or texts.

Look for real contact info. A missing or broken contact page is reason enough to leave.

When in doubt, check GetCyberSafe.gc.ca — Canada’s official cybersecurity resource.

+ Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) (2026 Essential)

2FA adds a second login step — so even with your child’s password, a scammer still can’t get in. Microsoft research found it blocks 99.9% of automated account-takeover attacks. Enable it on email, gaming, and social media. Use Google Authenticator or Authy instead of SMS where possible — text codes can be intercepted via SIM-swap.

One rule that stops most scams: Never click a link sent in a DM — from a stranger, a “friend,” or a brand. If something needs checking, navigate to the site directly.

Online privacy resources for parents and teens

You’re already thinking ahead

Strong habits, open conversations, and healthy scepticism when something feels off — that’s the foundation. Talk about scams at dinner. Review privacy settings together. Turn on 2FA this weekend. Small steps add up to real protection.

And if something goes wrong, make sure your child knows they can come to you — without judgment. That open door is the most powerful safety tool you have.

Looking for more? This blog is part of Mydoh’s ongoing series on scam and fraud awareness. Watch for upcoming guides on gaming scams, identity protection, and spotting AI-generated fakes.eep your kids safe online? Read our cyberbullying guide for parents.

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