Protecting Your Child from Online Crime
Online crime targeting children is a growing concern for UK families. From scams and identity theft to exposure to illegal content, the risks are real and evolving. As digital regulation tightens in 2025, parents must stay informed and proactive. This guide is packed with essential internet safety keywords and the latest UK statistics to help you identify, address, and prevent online crime against your child.
79% of UK children aged 8–17 encounter online scams at least once a month, and almost half (45%) see scams every week.
59% of 13–17-year-olds have seen potentially harmful content online in the past month.
42% of British parents feel they have little or no control over their child’s personal data on social media and video platforms
How to Identify Online Crime Targeting Children
Look for these warning signs of online scams, identity theft, and illegal content exposure:
Unexplained charges or purchases on your bank statements.
Your child receives messages from strangers asking for personal details or money.
Notifications about password resets or suspicious account activity.
Sudden changes in your child’s mood, secrecy around devices, or deleting messages and apps.
How to Address Online Crime
Stay calm and supportive. Let your child know they are not in trouble and you are there to help.
Gather information. Ask your child what happened, who contacted them, and what was shared.
Report incidents. Use in-app reporting tools and, for serious crimes, contact the police or Action Fraud.
Change passwords. Update all account credentials and enable two-factor authentication.
Monitor accounts. Watch for further suspicious activity and consider using parental controls. Online crime is one of the key dangers the Big Sister app is built to alert parents/guardians about. Explore all of our dangers detected here.
Seek support. If your child is distressed, consult a professional or reach out to organisations like the NSPCC.
Why Parental Involvement Matters
Two-thirds of UK parents use controls to limit what their children see online, but one in five children can disable these controls. Active involvement, regular conversations, and using advanced monitoring tools like Big Sister can make all the difference in protecting your child from online crime.
At Big Sister, we advocate for children's safety online. Our app marks a positive change in the way that our children are protected online, using flags and alerts to warn parents of dangerous content without breaking down trust and privacy barriers between children and adults.
Find out more about how to protect your children online without breaking their trust in our latest blog here.
Or sign up to our waitlist to be the first to know when the app launches and get access to our early bird discount.