In today's digital age, where children spend a significant amount of time online, a new scam has come to light. This scam specifically aims at our young ones. Your child might be constantly engaged with online platforms like YouTube, watching their favorite content. However, a concerning email scam has emerged where their beloved YouTube stars, such as Mr. Beast, are being impersonated to obtain personal information.

Protecting Your Kids from Scammers

"Jessie Schmidt, the regional vice president of the Better Business Bureau, emphasizes the importance of being cautious. 'If somebody tells you that you're going to win a prize or something is free, kids buy into all that. They just haven't been around long enough to know that there really is no free lunch.' This simple truth holds great significance in safeguarding our children from such scams.Another aspect to consider is that the email claiming a big win reads, 'Exciting Announcement! Congratulations on winning $500,000 from the Mr. Beast Giveaway!' Given that these YouTube stars are frequently on the platform and large cash prizes are not uncommon, it's easy for kids to believe such claims. Schmidt further explains, 'They're on YouTube all the time so if they were to get an email, a text message, or a voicemail claiming that these YouTube stars are reaching out to them, why wouldn't they believe it?'It's also alarming that the email tries to calm any concerns by suggesting being mindful of sharing personal information. Schmidt suspects that this scam was likely crafted with the help of artificial intelligence. 'Scammers are getting smarter and smarter all the time. "AI help me draft a believable email about winning a prize and protecting yourself." Boom! they have it in 30 seconds or less.'The best way to protect your kids from scammers, according to Schmidt, is to have an open conversation with them. 'We're coming up on a time when we'll have a lot of family time. This is a great dinner table conversation with your little kids, with your college kids, and with your young adults. It's essential to educate them about these scams and set boundaries. That's why it's so important that you have parental controls set on everything because our kids are getting educated. There's a YouTube video that can teach them just about anything. You want it to teach them the good stuff and not the bad stuff.'You can report a scam through the BBB scam tracker HERE. Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.