Scams can happen to anyone – including kids. Australians under 18 have already lost more than $85,000 to scams between January and July 2026, with more than half of the money lost relating to buying and selling scams.*
For kids who are becoming more independent online and starting to manage their own money, knowing how to recognise a potential scam is an important money skill. With Scams Awareness Week 2026 running from 24–28 August, it’s a great time to start the conversation with your family. Help your family learn how to spot the warning signs, stay safer online and know what to do if something doesn’t feel right.
What is Scams Awareness Week 2026?
Scams Awareness Week is a national campaign helping Australians recognise, avoid and report scams.
This year’s theme is ‘No one’s just a number’.
It’s a reminder that behind every scam report is a real person whose money, time and trust has been taken – and that scams can happen to anyone.
Being targeted by a scammer isn’t a reflection of someone’s intelligence or character. Talking openly about scams can help remove the embarrassment or stigma someone might feel after being targeted.
For kids, it’s knowing they can come to a trusted adult without fear of getting in trouble can make it easier to speak up when something doesn’t seem right.
How can you help kids stay safe from scams?
Scamwatch recommends three simple actions that families can practise together: Stop. Check. Protect.
🛑 Stop before sharing money or personal information
Scammers can try to create urgency, so you act before you have time to think.
Encourage your child to pause if they receive an unexpected message, offer or request for money or information – particularly if someone is pressuring them to act immediately.
A simple family rule could be: if you’re unsure, stop and ask.
👀 Check who you’re really dealing with
A message, website or online profile might look legitimate, but appearances can be deceiving.
Instead of using the phone number, email address or link someone sends you, find the organisation’s official contact details yourself. You can also look for reviews and check whether other people have reported similar experiences.
For kids, this could mean checking with a parent or trusted adult before:
- buying something from an unfamiliar website
- responding to an unexpected message or
- sending money to someone online.
🛡️ Protect yourself and others by reporting scams
If you or your child thinks they may have been scammed, contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible.
You can also report it to Scamwatch. Reporting a scam can help authorities understand scam trends and protect others too.
How can parents talk to kids about scams?
Scam conversations don’t have to be scary.
Rather than focusing only on everything that could go wrong online, help kids build a habit of slowing down and asking questions.
You could talk through questions like:
- Do I know who sent this?
- Are they asking me to act really quickly?
- Does the offer seem too good to be true?
- Are they asking for money or personal information?
- Can I check this another way?
- Who could I ask for help if I’m unsure?
You can also use Kit’s free Scam Spotter Checklist to help your child learn some of the common red flags to look out for or explore the Scam Detective Money Quest in the Kit app to put their scam-spotting skills into practice.
Most importantly, remind your child that they can always tell you if they think they’ve made a mistake.
Scams are designed to be convincing. Creating an environment where kids feel comfortable speaking up can help you act sooner if something does happen.
How can Kit's card controls help?
Alongside teaching kids how to recognise scams, controls in the Kit app can give parents another way to help kids manage their money more safely.
Bosses can:
- Set a customisable 24-hour spending limit
- Lock their child’s card at any time
- Turn online payments, digital wallet payments and ATM withdrawals on or off
- Block individual merchants
- Receive real-time purchase notifications
These controls can give parents more visibility into their child’s spending, as well as the flexibility to manage how their Kit card is used.
Make scam safety an ongoing family conversation
Scams Awareness Week is a useful reminder to talk about scams, but scam safety is a skill kids can keep building all year round.
Encourage them to remember three simple words whenever something doesn’t feel quite right:
Stop. Check. Protect.
Remind your child that if something doesn’t feel right, they can always come to you or another trusted adult for help.
The more comfortable families become talking about scams, the easier it can be to recognise the warning signs and take action.
👉 Learn more about Scams Awareness Week 2026 at Scamwatch, and head to @kitappau on Instagram for more practical tips to help your family spot scams and stay safe online.
*Source: Scamwatch Scam Statistics, January–July 2026.