School holidays change the rhythm of family life. Kids swap classrooms for gaming, scrolling, and streaming. Whilst parents juggle extra free time while worrying about what their children are doing online. Cybercriminals know this too and see the holidays as an opportunity to target younger users who are more active and less supervised.

Why extra care is needed during school holidays 

When routines shift, kids spend more time online. Games, social apps, and streaming platforms keep them entertained, but also expose them to more risks. Without the structure of school hours, children are more likely to click on new links or accept requests without thinking twice.

Scammers and cybercriminals are well aware of this. They deliberately target children and teens during school holidays, using tactics designed to grab attention fast, from free offers to fake friendships. 

Red flags to watch out for

Not every risk looks obvious. Many scams are designed to feel like harmless fun or everyday online interactions. Here are the most common red flags parents and kids should keep in mind: 

• Too-good-to-be-true offers 
  • Free skins, bonus levels, or giveaways that pop up in games and apps can be bait. They often ask for clicks, downloads, or even credit card details.  

• Fake friend requests 
  • Cybercriminals pose as classmates, teammates, or fellow gamers. Once accepted, they can send dodgy links, trick kids into sharing personal info, or even bully and scam them. 

• Suspicious downloads and links 
  • Pop-ups offering “faster play,” “unlock codes,” or “watch for free” can install malware in a single click. These hidden downloads can steal data, hijack accounts, or slow down devices. 

• Pressure tactics 
  • Messages that say, “act now,” “limited time,” or “you’ll miss out” are classic scam signals. The urgency pushes kids to click before they think. 

How to safeguard your family

Protective steps don’t need to be complicated. Focus on a mix of boundaries, conversations, and tools: 

• Set family rules 
  • Device-free times at dinner, no screens before bed, and keeping devices in shared spaces. 

• Talk before you click 
  • Encourage kids to pause and check with you if something looks unusual. 

• Protect privacy and money 
  • Turn off auto-pay, set spending limits, and explain why not all online offers are safe. 

• Use digital protection 
  • Update devices regularly, install reliable antivirus, and activate parental controls. 

• Model good behaviour 
  • Kids copy adults — so show them how to balance online and offline time safely. 

• Use scam software such as Trend Micro’s ScamCheck  to get complete protection against identity theft, scams, and protect your privacy.

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