With scammers now targeting Aussie kids in their millions, it’s never been more important for grandparents to keep an eye out for their grandkids’ safety online.

New research from Finder has uncovered just how widespread the problem has become. A Finder survey of 1,034 respondents, 338 of whom have a child under 18, revealed that 1 in 5 parents (20 per cent) admit their offspring have fallen victim to a scam in the past 12 months.

A further 4 per cent said it had happened in the past 12–24 months — amounting to more than 1.3 million children who have been scammed in the past two years.

Shockingly, 1 in 10 (10 per cent) Aussie parents said the only reason their child hadn’t been scammed over the past year was because they had stepped in and stopped it.

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder and mother-of-three, said it’s a scary reality that kids are now being targeted by scammers.

“Scammers are now going after minors, which is terrifying for parents,” she said.

“Children don’t necessarily have the experience to spot red flags, so they can be more vulnerable to falling for these tricks.”

Finder’s research shows that almost 1 in 10 (9 per cent) parents said their child was targeted in person, 7 per cent said on the phone, while 4 per cent reported an online scam via email or social media

Megginson highlighted the importance of having open conversations with younger ones about scams and the red flags to look out for.

“Simple steps like setting up parental controls, monitoring their online activity, and teaching kids to be careful who they interact with online can go a long way in keeping them safe,” she explained.

“Just making them aware of how common scams are and sharing with them examples in the news can help make them more aware of the dangers.”

As scammers sink to new lows in targeting younger Australians, it’s also a timely reminder for older Australians to stay alert and protect themselves from scams too.

When it comes to staying one step ahead of scammers, the National Anti-Scam Centre recommends the following precautionary measures:

• Stop – don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure. Say no, hang up and delete. If a scammer has taken your money or personal details, contact your bank or card provider to immediately report the scam and stop any transactions.
• Check – scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust – like myGov, your bank, the police or the government. If you’re unsure, call the official phone number of the organisation to check.
• Report – the more we talk, the less power they have. Report scams to scamwatch.gov.au