How to Stay Safe When Chatting With People Online
Online chat is great for staying close to family and meeting new people. It also attracts scammers and troublemakers. A few habits will keep you safe.
Be careful with people you have never met
Anyone can use a nice photo and a fake name. If a new contact quickly becomes very friendly, talks about love, or asks for favours, slow down. Real friendships do not need to rush.
Never send money to someone you only know online
The most common scam is a person who builds trust and then has an emergency: a sick relative, a stuck parcel, a visa fee. Do not send money, airtime or gift cards to anyone you have not met in person, however sad the story is. Try a video call first. Scammers usually avoid them.
Protect your personal details
Do not share your password, one-time codes, bank details or home address in chat. No real company or app will ask for a code sent to your phone. If someone asks, it is a scam.
Think before you send photos
A photo you send can be saved and shared by the other person. Never send private pictures to anyone, even someone you trust. If someone threatens to share your photos, do not pay. Block them, report them and tell a trusted adult or friend.
Use block and report
If a person makes you uncomfortable, block them. Blocking stops them from messaging or calling you. Use the report option so the team can look into it. You do not owe anyone a reply.
Keep your account secure
Use a strong password that you do not use anywhere else. Log out on shared phones. If you think someone else got into your account, change your password straight away.
Stay calm and trust your feeling. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Stop the chat, block and ask someone you trust for advice.
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