1. Digital Citizenship Middle School
Welcome to our fifth parent session on Digital Citizenship – Privacy and Security– Scams and Schemes .  Some of you joined us for our earlier sessions which covered the concepts of Cyberbullying - Digital Drama and Crossing the Line, Digital Footprints and Internet Safety.  We are glad to have you back and if this is your first session, we welcome you!  We appreciate your interest and dedication to assisting us with developing your student into a responsible digital citizen.

2. Scams and Schemes Session Goals: Understand what identity theft it
Importance of safeguarding your student against it
Recognize strategies scam artists use to access private information
Be able to safeguard your student against phishing and identity theft
This session – Scams and Schemes is a part of the Privacy and Security component. Let’s review our goals for this session. (Facilitator – read goals aloud to attendees).

3. What is Identity Theft? IDENTITY THEFT
A TYPE OF CRIME IN WHICH YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION IS STOLEN AND USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Before we dig deeper, let’s define Identity Theft. (Facilitator: Read definition)

4. Epidemic of Child Identity Theft
Now, let’s watch a video that shows how Child Identity Theft is an epidemic in our society and culture.

5. PADLET RESPONSE http://tinyurl.com/yclx9rag
After watching the video - The Epidemic of Child Identity Theft, think initially of what shocked you and also think of some tips that stood out that you may need to take action on immediately to protect your student from becoming a victim of identity theft.  Post your thoughts on the Padlet shown here.  You can scan the QR code or follow the link.  (Facilitator, as the parents respond, pull the Padlet up and discuss some of the responses.)

6. What Kinds of Personal Info Do Identity Thieves Look For?
Full name
Date and Place of Birth
Current and Previous Addresses
Phone Numbers
Driver’s License and Passport Number
Account Numbers – Banking or Credit Cards
Companies where you hold accounts – Amazon, Paypal
Passwords
Social Security Number
So far we have defined identity theft and watched a video showing why it is such a major issue for our students and what makes them a target. Let’s discuss now what information an identity thief is looking for. (Facilitator – read the list) How frightening is that? We are often times so consumed with protecting our own identity that we don’t see how our student could be an easy target or a vulnerable victim. What also makes them an easy target is that they have no credit and no credit is better than bad credit.

7. What Do Identity Thieves Do With Your Child’s Personal Information
Open Loan and Credit Accounts
Open Utility Accounts for their Home
Purchase Property / Mortgage Loans
Apply for Drivers License
Register Vehicles
A person that steals a child’s identity will use the information for their gain in the same way they would if they would take another adult’s identity. Take a look at what identity thieves are using children’s personal information to do. (Facilitator: Read the list)

8. What to Look Out For: Phishing Scams
WHEN PEOPLE SEND YOU PHONY S, POP-UP MESSAGES, SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES, TEXTS, CALLS, OR LINKS TO FAKE WEBSITES TO TRICK YOU INTO GIVING OUT YOUR PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Facilitator: Read the slide aloud) Phishing is the number one way that someone can steal your student’s identity. We have all received s, messages or pop-ups mostly with someone promising us money if we would just provide our bank account number. Before we would always see where senior citizens were victims of phishing, now we have to safeguard our students. Because of their age and attachment to social media, they are more prone to communication with people electronically and are more trusting and apt to give out private information to strangers. We have to teach them to be skeptical about online requests for personal information as well as being able to discern messages or posts that might seem out of character for people they actually know. This could be a warning sign that their friends account has been hacked.

9. Strategies to Avoid Phishing Scams
Avoid opening the message or in the first place.
Don’t click on any links or download any attachments. They may contain viruses or spyware.
Don’t reply.
Mark as “junk mail” or “spam” for your provider, or report it to your social network.
If you are concerned about an account you have with a company, contact the customer service department of that company by phone.
Verify the company’s contact information elsewhere online.
Give your student these strategies to use if they ever encounter something online that they may believe is a phishing scam. (Facilitator: Read the strategies aloud).

10. Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information
You can go to for help if you or your student find that your identity has been stolen. Forward any spam s you receive to spam.uce.gov.
If you find that you or your student are victims of identity theft, please go the site listed here for government assistance. Thank you so much for attending our session on Scams and Schemes – Identity Theft. We hope that you have learned some valuable information in protecting your student’s identity from identity thieves. Before we end the session, are there any questions?

11. Click on the link to complete a form to indicate that you completed this module.

12. Resources
Common Sense Media: Scams and Schemes Fox Business Network – The Epidemic of Child Identity Theft