Parents should monitor children on the internet

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is warning parents to monitor children when they use the internet, as part of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce’s ‘Fraud Fortnight’.

Children need to be aware of the risk of divulging their personal details online, particularly on social networking sites and online competitions. Scammers are on the internet with the intent of seducing users into giving them as many details as possible, which they then use to commit crimes.

“As an example, children provide personal details on these sites that no one would ordinarily provide to a stranger walking down the street, such as their full name and date of birth,” the Director of AFP Australian High Tech Crime Centre, James McCormack said.

“They may also click on “pop-up” competitions or advertisements and provide personal details. What people don’t realise is that even if you take this information down from the website, it is still available to those looking for it on the internet.”

He recommends that parents and children agree on an acceptable usage policy for the internet. It should cover issues like what time of day is okay for children in the house to surf the internet, the length of time they are allowed online, what sort of sites are appropriate, and how to deal with privacy and safety issues.

“To prevent the risk of children falling into a trap where they can provide personal details online that may facilitate financial or identity fraud, parents should take an interest in the sites their children are browsing, have family discussions about the internet and encourage children to discuss any issues they may have found disturbing,” Mr McCormack said.

“Parents and children should be reminded that just because someone asks for your details, it does not mean they need to provide them, even if it is for a competition to win an item, such as a mobile phone.”

Fraud Fortnight runs from 24 February to 8 March and aims to raise awareness about seductive and deceptive scams. To find out more about scams and to report scams visit www.scamwatch.gov.au or call SCAMwatch on 1300 795 995.

Fraud Fortnight is an initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce. Established in March 2005, the Taskforce is comprised of 19 Federal and State government regulatory agencies and departments that have a responsibility for consumer protection in relation to frauds and scams.