Almost half of children aged between eight and 17 in the UK have reported being scammed online, according to a survey conducted by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) in conjunction with Safer Internet Day.

The research indicates that 46% of young people have fallen victim to online scams, with 9% admitting they have lost money as a result.

The survey found that exposure to scams is prevalent, with 79% of respondents coming across scams at least once a month, 45% weekly, and 20% daily.

The types of scams most frequently encountered include fake giveaways, phishing attempts, and fraudulent websites, alongside online shopping scams and ‘trust trades’ in gaming.

Parental concern is echoed in the findings, with 81% of parents and carers believing online scams have become more convincing.

Additionally, 43% of teenagers share this sentiment.

Approximately 32% of young people expressed anxiety that emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, could complicate scam detection.

The research highlights that 18% of youth are aware of peers who have lost money to online scams.

Among those who have fallen victim, 26% stated they blamed themselves; this figure rises to 37% for 17-year-olds.

Furthermore, 47% of young people reported that embarrassment served as a significant barrier to seeking help following an online scam.

Will Gardner, director of UKSIC, emphasized the urgency of safeguarding children from online scams, noting their significant impact on youth.

A secondary study conducted by Vodafone revealed that nearly one million British children aged 11 to 16 have been victims of online scams over the past year, with 13-year-olds being the most affected demographic.

The Vodafone study indicated that 22% of scams occurred on gaming platforms, while 78% were reported on social media platforms.

Focus groups noted that fraudsters exploit these trusted platforms to target young people, leveraging vulnerabilities such as financial insecurity and social pressure.

Children reported that common scams often manifest as deceptive advertisements or quizzes that appear to come from reputable brands, aiming to extract personal information or mislead them into purchasing counterfeit products.

The study analyzed the experiences of approximately 2,000 parents and children, as well as over 4,800 teachers, identifying over 3,000 attempts to scam young people online each day.

Helen Westerman, campaigns manager at the NSPCC, expressed concern regarding the emotional and psychological impacts of such scams, including anxiety and depression among affected youths.

The NSPCC emphasized the importance of open communication between parents and their children regarding online safety.

Vodafone noted its efforts in combating these scams, including blocking approximately 1.7 million calls from known scammers daily.

The company is set to launch a “Phish ‘N’ Tips” shop in London on February 20, 2025, designed to provide families with insights on identifying and addressing online scams.

In the UK, individuals who fall victim to online scams are advised to report incidents to Action Fraud or their local police service.