Almost one-and-a-half million Australian children have fallen victim to scams over the past two years, according to alarming new research from Finder.
The survey reveals that one in five parents said their child was scammed within the last year, while another 4 per cent reported incidents within the last two years.
In many cases, adult intervention was the only thing that prevented further harm—10 per cent of parents said they had to step in to stop their children from being deceived by scammers.
Finder’s research shows that 11 per cent of scams targeting children occurred through digital means—via phone calls, social media, or email—while almost 10 per cent happened in person. Experts warn that scammers are increasingly focusing on children because they are less likely to recognise warning signs and often lack experience in online safety.
“Scammers are now going after minors, which is terrifying for parents,” said Sarah Megginson from Finder. “Children don’t necessarily have the experience to spot red flags, so they can be more vulnerable to these tricks.”
Megginson urged parents to take proactive steps to protect their children. “Simple measures like setting up parental controls, monitoring their online activity, and teaching them to think critically about who they engage with online can go a long way,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of communication: “Just making kids aware of how common scams are and showing them real examples in the news can help them better understand the risks.”
The rise in scams against minors reflects a growing need for awareness campaigns and digital education in Australian households, as criminals continue to exploit every possible vulnerability in the online space.
