How Safe Are You Online? 

False. Many online scammers do want to steal your money. But some of them also want your personal information, like your address and phone number. Why? Having this information can help them find your bank account or open credit cards in your name. They can even steal your identity. Protect yourself by only opening emails and clicking on links that you know and trust. 

B. You may want to let everyone know where to get some of that delicious ice cream. But doing so could be a safety risk. When you share a photo online and tag your location, it’s called geotagging. In this example, a stranger could easily track your phone and find out where you are. They could also figure out that your family isn’t home—and break in. Just to be safe, avoid sharing your location when posting online. You can also turn off location tracking in your phone settings. 

D. Unfortunately, scammers have found many ways to try to scam people. To help keep yourself safe, always think twice before clicking on links that you may get via texts or emails. And never send out personal information to someone you don’t know. If you’re unsure if someone you’re talking to online can be trusted, check with a grown-up. 

False. Studies have found that younger people can be tricked by scammers just as easily. Why? Some experts say it’s because teens are more comfortable using the internet. As a result, they often trust more people online. Many teens also tend to make their lives public, which can make it easier for scammers to find them. Stay safe online by making your accounts private.

B. One of the best ways to keep your online accounts safe is to create a strong password for each account you have and change the passwords often. What does “strong” mean? A secure password should be hard to remember and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. And definitely keep it to yourself—the more people who know it, the more likely a scammer can target you!