How can we prepare children to recognise scam messages, phishing attempts, and fake links? 

Parenting Perspective 

Equipping children with the skills to identify online deception is a crucial part of modern parenting. This education should be ongoing, practical, and reassuring. 

Explaining the Basics of Scams 

In simple, age-appropriate terms, explain how online scams work. For younger children, you might say, ‘Some people online pretend to be someone else to try and get private information’. For older children, you can discuss concepts like phishing, fake links, and prize scams, explaining that the goal is often to trick people into giving away passwords or money. 

Learning to Spot the Warning Signs 

Turn your child into a digital detective by teaching them to look for common red flags. Show them safe, anonymised examples of scam attempts, pointing out tell-tale signs like poor spelling and grammar, urgent or threatening language, unfamiliar senders, and offers that seem too good to be true. 

Practising a Safe Response 

Role-playing different scenarios can build a child’s confidence and muscle memory. Act out what they should do if a suspicious message appears: stop, do not click, do not reply, and immediately tell a trusted adult. This practice helps them react calmly and correctly under pressure, rather than out of panic or curiosity. 

Using Technology as a Shield 

Introduce them to the safety tools that are already in place. Explain that email spam filters, browser security warnings, and parental controls are like having a digital guard at the door. While these tools are helpful, remind them that their own caution and critical thinking are always the most important line of defence. 

Cultivating a ‘Pause and Ask’ Reflex 

Above all, foster the unbreakable habit of checking with you first. Reassure them that they will never be in trouble for interrupting you to ask about a message or link. This simple rule, when consistently encouraged, is one of the most effective ways to prevent a costly mistake. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam champions the principles of caution, verification, and awareness of deceit, which are directly applicable to online safety. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Israa (17), Verse 36: 

‘And do not pursue (to meddle in matters) with which you have no knowledge; indeed, your hearing (everything you heard), your sight (everything you observed), your conscience (everything you thought), in fact, all of these (your faculties) shall be called for questioning (on the Day of Judgment). ‘ 

This verse instils a profound sense of accountability and caution. It teaches children not to act on impulse or follow links and messages from unknown sources. In the digital age, “pursuing that of which you have no knowledge” is the very definition of clicking on a suspicious link, and this verse reminds us to be mindful before we act. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also warned us about the characteristics of deceitful people. 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, 5021, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.‘ 

This hadith provides a moral framework for understanding the nature of scams. Scammers operate using these very characteristics: they lie about who they are, they promise fake rewards, and they betray the trust of their victims. Teaching children to recognise these signs of deceit is not just a practical safety lesson; it is a form of spiritual discernment.