Sardine | Online Scam Awareness | Protect Youth From Sextortion

What’s up fraud fighters! Welcome to Fraud Forward.

This episode is a little different for me, and honestly it is one of the most important conversations I have recorded.

Most of the time on this podcast I am talking with fraud leaders, investigators, or compliance professionals. We talk about scams after they have already impacted financial institutions. But this time I wanted to flip the conversation around and talk about prevention much earlier.

So I invited two very special guests to join me. My daughter Adalyn and her friend Katelyn.

I wanted to hear directly from them about what young people are actually seeing online. Because if we are serious about online scam awareness, we cannot design education programs for students without listening to students.

What came out of this conversation was eye opening.

Students are encountering fraud risks earlier than most adults realize. Sextortion targeting teens, fake check scams for minors, and blackmail schemes online often start with what looks like a completely normal interaction on social media.

A message.

A follow request.

A conversation that feels harmless.

Then suddenly the situation escalates.

One thing that stood out to me while talking with Adalyn and Katelyn is how quickly scammers use embarrassment and pressure to isolate victims. When someone feels ashamed or afraid of getting in trouble, they are far less likely to ask for help.

That is exactly why conversations like this matter.

Families, schools, and financial institutions all have a role to play in strengthening online scam awareness. When students understand the tactics scammers use, they are much more likely to pause and talk to someone before things spiral.

What you’ll hear in this episode

Common online scams targeting youth and students
How sextortion schemes impact teens and their families
What students are learning from school programs and law enforcement presentations
Why reporting scams to trusted adults matters
How peer-driven fraud education can make prevention more effective

You should listen to this episode if

Fraud prevention or financial education is part of your role
You are concerned about digital fraud risks for teens
Your institution supports community outreach or youth education
You want to strengthen online scam awareness in schools or families

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and review the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It really helps more fraud fighters find these conversations.

Episode notes & key takeaways

Before we double click on the notes, I want to share something that really hit me during this conversation.

We often assume young people will tell an adult when something feels wrong online. But that is not always how it plays out.

Sometimes embarrassment gets in the way.

Sometimes they worry they will get in trouble.

Sometimes they simply do not realize they are dealing with a scam until it escalates.

That is why prevention has to focus on awareness and communication.

Students are seeing scams earlier than we think

One thing that surprised me when talking with Adalyn and Katelyn was how common these scams already feel in their world.

Many teens are aware of stories involving sextortion targeting teens or online blackmail schemes because they hear about them from friends or classmates.

The problem is that awareness often comes after someone has already been targeted.

Scams targeting youth often begin with social media interaction. It may look like:

A stranger starting a friendly conversation
Someone asking for photos or personal information
An offer that seems exciting or flattering

From there the scammer gradually increases pressure.

That is why early student fraud education matters so much. When students understand how these scams unfold, they are more likely to recognize warning signs and stop the interaction early.

Why teens sometimes stay silent

Another thing we talked about in this episode is why teens hesitate to report scams.

Many of these schemes rely on embarrassment.

Sextortion and blackmail scams are designed to make victims feel isolated. Scammers often threaten to expose private information or images unless the victim follows instructions.

When someone feels ashamed, the instinct is often to hide the situation rather than report it.

That is why family communication matters so much.

Students need to know that if something goes wrong online, the first response from a trusted adult will be support rather than punishment.

Creating that kind of environment can dramatically increase early reporting.

Education works best when students are part of the conversation

One of the biggest takeaways for me is that youth education works best when young people are part of the conversation.

Peer-based fraud education can be incredibly effective.

When students hear about scams from classmates or youth leaders, the message often feels more relatable and less like a lecture.

Schools and community organizations can strengthen prevention efforts by:

Incorporating digital safety discussions into classroom conversations
Inviting law enforcement or fraud professionals to speak with students
Encouraging open discussions about online risks

Financial institutions also play an important role here. Community outreach programs and youth financial literacy initiatives help reinforce online scam awareness long before students open their first accounts.

Final takeaway

Recording this episode reminded me that fraud prevention does not start at the bank.

It starts much earlier.

When families, schools, and financial institutions work together to build online scam awareness, students gain the confidence to recognize scams and ask for help before serious harm occurs.

Helping young people navigate digital risks today strengthens the safety of the entire financial ecosystem tomorrow.