How to spot online money scams as a teen
Scammers love teens. We are online a lot. We sometimes want quick money. And we are often embarrassed to tell an adult when something feels off.
Do not be embarrassed. The scammer is the one who should be embarrassed.
"Easy money" Discord/Instagram DMs
"Hey! I made $4,000 last week trading crypto. I can teach you. Just $50 to start."
What is actually happening: they take your $50 and ghost — or they recruit you into a pump-and-dump where you are left holding worthless coins. Block, report, move on.
Fake Robux / game gift cards
"Free 5,000 Robux! Just enter your account password here."
Roblox, Steam, Epic, Xbox — none of them ever ask for your password on a third-party site. The page is fake. You will lose your account.
"Verify your account" emails
"Your bank account will be locked in 24 hours. Click here to verify."
Real banks do not email links to "verify." If you are worried, type the bank URL yourself. Never click the link in the email.
Romance scams
Someone meets you online. Says all the right things. A few weeks in, they need $200 for "an emergency."
Pattern: they always have a reason they cannot meet in person or video chat. Block.
Fake job offers
"Earn $500/week stuffing envelopes from home! Send $30 for the starter kit."
Real jobs do not ask you to pay to start. Period.
Every scam has at least one
- Urgency ("act now")
- Secrecy ("do not tell anyone")
- Asking for upfront money
- Promises of guaranteed returns
- Pressure to switch to Telegram / WhatsApp / gift cards
- A stranger DMing first
If anyone asks for gift cards, it is always a scam. No exceptions. Not your school. Not the IRS. Not your boss. Always.
When something feels off
- Stop responding immediately.
- Take a screenshot.
- Tell a trusted adult.
- Report and block.