Category: cyber money toolkit

cyber toolkit spending money online

Consume: spending money online

Overview

More and more of the money we spend is spent online or digitally. Whether that is debit card or Go Henry, mobile contactless with Google or Apple Pay, or online payments like PayPal and even cryptocurrency.
Learners need to understand the benefits and risks of using digital money and online accounts to make purchases. Do they understand the amount of targeted advertising that they are exposed to? Are they aware of when a social media ‘influencer’ is being paid to promote products to them?

 

back to Consume

Internet safety risks and considerations

Access

In order to spend money online, learners usually need access to:

  • an internet-connected device
  • funds, such as a bank account, credit card or game funds card

 

When supporting learners with this area, it is important to consider who controls their access to these opportunities and resources:

  • Is there a risk of this occurring in school?
  • How is that enabled?
  • Are there steps that could be taken to reduce the risk of this?

 

If it is an out-of-school risk:

  • How can the school support with this?
  • Is support required for families or learners?
  • Who can support with this: Community Learning and Development or Police Scotland?
Potential risks

Being more cyber resilient reduces the risk of internet safety issues arising. We all want the internet to be a more welcoming space for children and young people and that is why we promote this positive message of safe, smart and kind.

Topics to explore with learners might include:

Cyber resilience guidance

Devices

The first potential vulnerability when spending online is the device not being securely set up. Check with learners that they have:

  • a screenlock that requires a passcode or biometric (face or fingerprint) to log in to stop unauthorised access (hacking)
  • the latest operating system (usually iOS, android or Windows) installed as this usually fixes potential security vulnerabilities
  • antivirus software installed, turned on and updated to reduce risk of viruses or ransomware
  • installed apps from approved providers, such as App Store or Play Store to avoid malicious content
  • only using secure websites that have the padlock symbol and https in the address bar
Accounts

When setting up and using accounts with access to funds, such as shopping, gaming or streaming, users should:

  • stick to well-known platforms that other people use regularly, such as supermarkets and apps from the app store or Play store
  • use review sites, such as Trustpilot, when using a new or less well-known app
  • consider using a separate email account form the one used to access their bank
  • use a stronger password including three random words and not share this with anyone
  • use 2FA or additional security features when available
Report and support

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of scams, fraud or theft should report it to Police Scotland by phoning 101.

Whether a victim or not, all potential scams should be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) who will investigate and then remove or block the scams so that others do not fall victim. 

If money has been stolen, or personal details accessed from a financial account, then contact the bank or service provider immediately and then update login details such as email address, password and 2FA.
call police on 101

Resources

Resources for younger learners

The National Cyber Security Centre infographic for Shopping Securely Online

There are downloadable resources on the MoneySense website about How to Pay for Things and How Can I Keep My Money Safe? – Money Sense Teaching Resources

The SQA Academy has FREE interactive tutorials on setting up accounts and spending money or booking events online: Digital Learning Guides (sqaacademy.org.uk)

Resources for older learners

All Scottish secondary schools received copies of the Your Money Matters textbook. These resources (chapters 5 and 6) can be used to cover the contexts of spending and managing money online. Your Money Matters Scotland – PowerPoints

Online course with badges – learn how to setup, spend and manage online spending Transacting | Digital Wings (uk.barclays)

Phishing: Spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and… – NCSC.GOV.UK

The SQA Academy has FREE interactive tutorials on setting up accounts and spending money or booking events online: Digital Learning Guides (sqaacademy.org.uk)

Consume – Gambling

More and more of the money we spend is spent online or digitally and that includes gambling. Learners need to understand the benefits and risks of using digital money and online accounts to make purchases. Do they understand the amount of targeted advertising that they are exposed to? Are they aware of when a social media ‘influencer’ is being paid to promote products to them?

Online risks:

  • pressurised into spending by targeted advertising, influencer promotions, or in-app/in-game microtransactions – such as gambling offers and promotions on social media
  • not saving payment details on games consoles, devices or gambling apps can reduce the convenience of spending too much
  • cyber scams, such as phishing and ransomware, linked to gambling

 

The Scottish Gambling Education Hub (@GamblingEduHub)

Fast Forward (@fastforwardorg)

Becoming cyber resilient is the first step to being safer online. Talk to your learners about the devices and accounts that they use to access online information:

  • Make them aware of any potential risks, such as clicking links in posts and on web pages – these could lead to phishing or malware
  • If they are accessing their information on social media, there are usually filter settings in the security and privacy settings for the platform – these can be used to reduce the content from certain sources, sites or profiles
  • If content is harmful or malicious do they know how to report it?

Being more cyber resilient reduces the risk of internet safety issues arising. We all want the internet to be a more welcoming space for children and young people and that is why we promote this positive message of safe, smart and kind.

With your learners:

  • Discuss with learners what gambling is and the risks it carries to wellbeing – an dhow to report a problem
  • Explore the safety features of online gambling – account settings, information literacy to better understand deals, offers and promotions
  • Investigate the need for support from friends and family to deal with gambling – would they report or support their friends or family?

Resources:

Resources | Fast Forward

Information:

What we do – Gambling Education Hub (fastforward.org.uk)

Gambling-Education-Toolkit-Gambling-An-Overview-March-19.pdf (fastforward.org.uk)

Your Recovery Toolkit – GamCare