Teaching kids one key phrase: anyone who asks them to use a parent’s phone to enter verification codes is a scammer

10. Teaching kids one key phrase: anyone who asks them to use a parent’s phone to enter verification codes is a scammer

Cost: There’s no cost involved. Simply explain these six types of scams to your child, then agree on this phrase: “If you’re scammed, tell me right away and I won’t scold you.” Also set a spending limit for cashless payments, enable teen mode, and never share the payment password with your child. The hardest part is resisting the urge to get angry if they actually fall victim to a scam.

In plain terms: Each of these six scams works differently, but they all end the same way: the scammer gets the child to use a parent’s phone to transfer money or read out verification codes. That’s why this single phrase is enough: anyone who asks your child to use a parent’s phone or read out verification codes is a scammer. Add this follow-up line too: “If you’re scammed, tell me right away and I won’t scold you.” Only if the child feels safe enough to speak up immediately is there any chance of recovering the stolen funds.

Benefit: The Quanzhou Anti-Fraud Center and Quanzhou Education Bureau identified six common scams targeting teens. Though their methods vary, they all culminate in the same action: getting the child to transfer money via a parent’s phone. First, fake offers for cheap gaming accounts and gear. One boy transferred 260 yuan privately, then the scammer told him “transactions by minors are against the rules and your account will be frozen,” and tricked him into clicking a “verification link” using his dad’s phone, which led to over 30,000 yuan being stolen. Second, “removing anti-addiction restrictions.” Scammers threatened “if you don’t transfer money, your parents will go to jail,” so the child used his mom’s phone to send 7,000 yuan. Official rules make it clear there are no “unofficial ways” to lift these restrictions. Third, fake refund offers for in-game purchases. Impostors posing as “official customer service” claimed refunds were possible if parents used Alipay to send gifts to a specific livestream; this resulted in 73,000 yuan being spent on gifts, after which the scammers cut off contact. Official guidance states “anyone asking you to ‘send gifts to get a refund’ is 100% a scam.” Fourth, impersonating classmates or teachers. Scammers hack accounts to send voice messages calling the child by name and asking for money. At the start of the school year, they also join class groups pretending to be teachers, posting “pay 500 yuan for school fees” with identical profile pictures and nicknames to real teachers, even enlisting “accomplices” in the group to confirm “I’ve already paid.” Fifth, fake fan group offers. Scammers lure kids into “celebrity fan groups” promising 888 yuan in cash prizes; first they ask for a 48.88 yuan “verification fee,” then threaten “since minors aren’t allowed to join, the platform will freeze 80,000 yuan and your parents will go to jail” — this led to 16,000 yuan being stolen. Official guidance stresses “real police officers or lawyers never contact minors online to investigate, nor do they ever ask parents to operate phones.” Sixth, fake low-price listings on second-hand platforms that lure buyers off the site for private transactions. The same materials also list three red lines kids must never cross: first, never lend, sell or rent bank cards or SIM cards, as using them to move illicit funds can lead to criminal charges that affect future college admissions or civil service exams; second, “mobile voice acting” gigs are illegal; third, “high-paying overseas jobs” often turn out to be traps where victims are held captive upon arrival (Quanzhou, October 2025).

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Quanzhou Anti-Fraud Center (2025). The first lesson of school｜Anti-fraud is a compulsory course for teenagers. These 6 traps must be avoided! <http://gat.fujian.gov.cn/ztzl/fjjffpzxrx/spjq/202510/t20251028_7026836.htm> (Reprinted by Fujian Provincial Public Security Department)

Notes: This is graded B because the source materials provide detailed breakdowns of scammer tactics and specific case examples, but there are no statistics on overall incidence rates or the effectiveness of preventive measures. This is distinct from Item 9, where kids spending money on in-game purchases can request refunds under civil law. Funds stolen by scammers fall outside this scope and must be reported under Section 8, Clause 2 to freeze transactions; recovery depends on whether the money remains in the account. The core scammer line “you’ve broken the rules and your parents will go to jail” is a dead giveaway of fraud — explaining this to kids beforehand is far more effective than trying to question them after the fact. It’s also crucial to actually follow through on the promise “if you’re scammed, tell me right away and I won’t scold you.” In all these cases, kids’ reluctance to speak up due to fear of punishment was a key reason losses kept growing. For adult versions of impersonation scams and AI face-swapping tactics, see Section 8, Clauses 3 and 4 (core anti-fraud rules, and always hang up first if a transfer is requested).