Despite the safety measures put in place by cybersecurity companies, the internet still remains as elusive as ever. There are many trap doors masquerading as authentic opportunities posing a danger to inexperienced surfers. Many victims are teenagers since they spend most of their time online. They're very easy to manipulate as most of them lack proper cybersecurity knowledge.
As a mother, you can't always monitor what your teenager is doing online, but you can take precautions to keep them safe. Here are the three things to watch out for when your teen goes online:
In-game Purchases
The popularity of mobile gaming is growing around the world, particularly with teenagers. The games are free to play, but they contain in-game purchases, where a gamer gets a chance to upgrade their 'level' or 'accessories' to progress further into the game.
These in-game purchases might not be as expensive as you think, but they pose a serious challenge, especially when your teenager gets addicted to the game. To level up or get additional accessories within the game, the gamer gets two choices:
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Watch the ads or wait for a specific amount of time to get the accessories.
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Purchase the accessories, which is an instant process, and they can do it as many times as they want.
Patience is not a strong suit for many teenagers, so they're less likely to choose the first option. They'll also use your credit cards to make these in-game purchases, and if you don't control how they use them, they might end up exhausting the limits in a few days.
Talk to your credit card issuer to set up alert notifications for certain amounts of transactions involving your credit card. Many credit card issuers can allow you to set alerts for transactions as low as $10. This will help you monitor how your children are using your credit cards, and most importantly, where they're using them.
Unlicensed Online Gambling Websites
The remarkable technological growth has resulted in a surge in online gambling platforms. Teenagers over the age of 18 can still gamble by visiting a licensed online casino such as those listed at trusted casino review sites as Winvio Australia. However, there are unlicensed online gambling websites still in operation that take advantage of unsuspecting teenagers. The essence of these websites is to lure in users by offering incentives such as free bets and free spins. In return, the scammers steal personal information, such as credit card numbers and bank account details.
These websites are unregulated by the authorities, and any loss of information in their hands is untraceable. Some of these websites have malware in them, which infect your computer and any device connected to the network. This is how identity thieves get access to your information.
Talk to your teenager about the dangers of using unlicensed online gambling websites and how they can identify them. Caution them not to download anything online, especially if they don't trust the source.
Buying Cryptocurrency without Proper Information
The success of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Litecoin has encouraged people to invest in them. As much as it may appear as a sound investment, cryptocurrency prices are volatile and tend to fluctuate more often. That's why if you want to trade profitably in cryptocurrency, you need to know the following:
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Reading cryptocurrency charts;
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Understanding the trends;
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Identifying the correct market entry points.
As you would expect, not all teenagers have this kind of information or the will to get it. Most of them learn about cryptocurrencies from their friends or by reading online articles. Besides this, they also look at the cryptocurrency's trading figures, which they translate into instant success. As a result, you should expect them to make poor financial investments, and they'll most probably use your credit cards for these transactions.
There is also the issue of cryptocurrency scams happening worldwide, with many scammers targeting unsuspecting victims such as teenagers. They promise to trade on your behalf and set unrealistic targets, which they use to lure people into their traps. As a result, they end up stealing crucial financial information, such as credit cards or social security numbers.
If you suspect your teenager is interested in cryptocurrency, try and educate them regarding this investment. If you don't have the information to share, you can enrol them in online classes that teach people how to invest in cryptocurrency. This extra step will help them learn from reliable sources and know how the market works.
In Conclusion
Teenagers spend most of their time online playing mobile games, using social media or even playing in online (social) casinos. Talk with your credit card issuer to set up notifications for any amount more than $10. Ensure you educate your teens regarding safe cryptocurrency investment. Teach them how to identify a licensed online casino for their gambling needs.
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