Raghib Khan’s Perception Towards Video Games Scams Targeting Children
In the digital world, children and adolescents have constant access to the internet, online gaming systems, mobile phones, and thousands of applications and games. Cybercriminals are exploiting the popularity of online sites, apps, and games to create convincing scams that are difficult for adults, let alone children, to detect and avoid.
Children faced mostly physical dangers a generation ago, such as a scraped knee or a broken arm. However, as the internet has grown in popularity, today's threats are increasingly digital.
Children adore video games, and they can not only play them with their real-life friends but also make new friends with players of all ages and cultures from all over the world. However, online games pose unique dangers to children because of their interactive nature. Given the rapid evolution of these games, parents must remain vigilant in order to keep their children safe while playing them.
What kind of scams are there in video games?
In the digital world, children and adolescents have constant access to the internet, online gaming systems, mobile phones, and thousands of applications and games. Cybercriminals are exploiting the popularity of online sites, apps, and games to create convincing scams that are difficult for adults, let alone children, to detect and avoid.
Children faced mostly physical dangers a generation ago, such as a scraped knee or a broken arm. However, as the internet has grown in popularity, today's threats are increasingly digital.
Children adore video games, and they can not only play them with their real-life friends but also make new friends with players of all ages and cultures from all over the world. However, online games pose unique dangers to children because of their interactive nature. Given the rapid evolution of these games, parents must remain vigilant in order to keep their children safe while playing them.
While online gaming has many benefits, parents should be aware of the emotional, financial, and even physical risks associated with these games. Among the most common scams are:
Inappropriate language and content
Even if your child's game is appropriate for his or her age, he or she may come across foul language, provocatively dressed characters, sexually suggestive behaviors, or worse. A hacker who circumvented the security settings sexually assaulted a girl's avatar in one popular game aimed at elementary school-aged children.
Cyberbullying
Bullying is common on the internet. Because online gaming communities are anonymous, players frequently say things they would not say in front of another person. Typically, these interactions involve verbally abusive comments.
Unwanted contact from strangers with malicious intent
While being able to communicate verbally, in chat rooms, or via instant messaging is great for making new friends and developing team game strategies, it can also be used by strangers to gain your child's trust and coax personal information like their name, school, and address.
Financial loss
Many games encourage your child to spend money (virtual or real) in order to advance in the game. After a child downloads a game, in-app purchases and loot boxes entice players to spend more money with the promise of improving the child's abilities or appearance in the game. You could quickly lose a lot of money if your child had access to your credit card information.
Raghib Khan discussed several best practices as a parent or guardian to limit your child's exposure to frauds and scams:
Use parental controls for your child's devices, websites, and gaming platforms.
Explain that the information is confidential.
Personal identifiable information (PII) should never be used in an account profile.
Teach children the risks of opening suspicious links, even if they appear to be from "friends."
Keep account information secure.
Be wary of bogus websites and phone apps, and only make purchases through official gaming platforms.
The internet can be a wonderful place for our children to explore, as long as we furnish them with the information they need to avoid the risks. Despite the numerous potential issues, online gaming can be a fun, social, and popular hobby when used properly.