The WARNING SIGNS that your child is being affected by cybercrime may not be obvious. Pay close attention to small changes in their behavior.
Ask yourself:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is important that you investigate the situation further by speaking with your child. If you think that your child has been affected by a cybercrime you should report the incident immediately using the information below, then visit the appropriate incident page for further steps to recover and reinforce your child’s cybersecurity.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 right away!
No matter what type of cybercrime incident, reporting cybercrime incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is very important! The more national reporting data that is collected, the better the chance law enforcement has to catch the criminals and decrease online crime. Although the FBI does not resolve individual complaints directly, they will make your report available to local, state and other law enforcement partners. The FAQs about reporting can be found here. Please read the FBI/IC3 privacy policy here. (If you believe that you’ve received a phishing email, please forward the email directly to reportphishing@apwg.org.)
Visit our individual incident sections for detailed information and resources on various types of cybercrime that can affect anyone, at any age.
Resources for Parents and Children
By taking a few basic precautions you can help your child defend themselves against cybercrime. Listed below are some simple preventive measures that everyone can implement to be more secure online:
Zuky the Robot: Complex Passwords
Living Security: Help Keep Kids Safe Online Video
Resources for Teens and Parents
By taking a few basic precautions you can help your teen defend themselves against cybercrime. Listed below are some simple preventive measures that you and your teen can implement to be more secure online:
Parents of Teens:
FTC: Stand Up to Cyberbullying
Thorn: Stop Sextortion
Living Security: Social Media Safety Video
Resources for Young Adults
By taking a few basic precautions you can defend yourself against cybercrime. Listed below are some simple preventive measures that everyone can implement to be more secure online: