We grew up with the image of a creepy guy in a van offering candy. In 2026, that guy is a 15-year-old’s profile picture on Discord who "just wants to help you level up."

The term "stranger" is effectively meaningless to a kid who has 400 "friends" on Snapchat they’ve never met in person. To them, if you’ve played three rounds of Among Us together, you’re basically cousins.

Instead of teaching kids to avoid strangers, we need to teach them to identify Tricky People. Tricky people are anyone—known or unknown—who asks a child to break family rules, keep a secret, or do something that makes their "uh-oh" feeling kick in.

If you think your kid is too smart to get scammed, I have some bad news. According to recent data, nearly 20% of kids in grades 6-12 have had an interaction with a stranger online that made them feel uncomfortable, but only a fraction told their parents.

Even more alarming is the rise of Financial Sextortion. This isn't just a "creepy guy" problem; it’s a global organized crime problem. Scammers (often overseas) target teen boys on Instagram and Snapchat, trick them into sending an explicit photo, and then immediately demand money (usually via gift cards or crypto) to keep the photo from being sent to their friends and family. It is fast, it is brutal, and it is happening in every zip code.

Learn more about the rise of sextortion targeting teen boys

Scammers aren't just looking for money; they’re looking for data, accounts, and influence. Here is what your kids are actually seeing:

The "Free Robux" or "Free V-Bucks" generator is the oldest trick in the book, yet kids fall for it daily. They click a link in a YouTube description, enter their login credentials, and suddenly their account—and every skin they've spent real money on—is gone.

This is the new frontier. A kid gets a call or a WhatsApp voice note that sounds exactly like their best friend or even a parent, asking for money or a "verification code." It’s terrifyingly effective because it bypasses our natural skepticism.

Predators often use "prestige" to groom kids. They’ll claim to be a scout for an esports team or a photographer for a clothing brand. They use the child’s desire for success to lower their guard.

Check out our guide on common gaming scams

At this age, kids are likely on PBS Kids or playing Toca Life World. The rule is simple: "Check with a grown-up before you click, download, or talk." Explain that some buttons on the screen are "tricky" and try to take you away from your game. Use the analogy of a "digital playground"—most people are there to play, but some people are just there to break the toys.

This is when they start hitting Roblox and YouTube hard. Teach them the Three Big Red Flags:

Teens are on TikTok, Instagram, and BeReal. This is the age for the "Sextortion Talk." It’s uncomfortable, but necessary. Tell them: "If anyone ever threatens you with a photo or video, come to me first. I won't be mad. These people are professional criminals, and we will handle it together."

Ask our chatbot for a script on how to talk to teens about sextortion

You don't need to be a tech genius to protect your kids. You just need to know the features of the apps they use.

Discord is the "Wild West" of middle school. It’s great for gaming communities, but the DM (Direct Message) feature is where the trouble starts. Ensure your child’s settings are set to "Keep Me Safe" (which scans images) and that they only accept DMs from "Friends."

The disappearing nature of Snaps gives kids a false sense of security. Remind them that nothing online is ever truly gone—screenshots are forever. Also, check their "Snap Map" settings. Unless they want the whole school (and potential creeps) to know exactly which couch they’re sitting on, they should be in "Ghost Mode."

Roblox has actually improved its safety features recently, but the "Experience" chat is still a place where scammers thrive. Use the Screenwise guide to Roblox parental controls to lock down who can message your child.

If you come at this with a "the internet is evil" vibe, your kids will stop listening before you finish your first sentence. They’ll think you’re being "Ohio" (weird/cringe) and tune you out.

Instead, frame it as Digital Self-Defense.

Make it about them being smart, not you being a cop.

We can't monitor every single DM, and frankly, as they get older, we shouldn't. The goal is to build a child who trusts their gut. If a conversation feels "sus," if a "friend" feels pushy, or if a deal feels too good to be true, they need to know that they can come to you without fear of having their phone taken away.

The #1 reason kids don't tell parents about online predators is the fear of losing their digital life.

Make it clear: "If you get into trouble online, the phone is the tool we use to fix it, not the prize I’m going to take away."

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Check out our guide on the best privacy-focused apps for kids