Does your child have a mobile phone?

Do you know what smishing is?

SMS phishing or ‘smishing’ is one of the most common forms of mobile-based cyber-attack. Smishing is when a scammer texts their target, pretending to be a reputable person or organisation. They aim to trick the victim into supplying sensitive data such as bank details and personal information, so they can then access the target’s bank account and remove money.

What should you do?

We advise that you explain to your children what they should do if they ever get a text message from someone they do not know. It is vital that they tell someone else and do not reply unless they have checked it is safe to do so. Encourage your child to talk about how they use their mobile phone on a regular basis.

There are also anti-virus software which now protects mobile phones. They detect phishing links in text messages and alert you about the risk. You should consider downloading anti-virus software to your child’s phone.

If you need more support or guidance with online safety please contact a staff member or send us an email newdale.primary@taw.org.uk