Campaign to help young people stay safe online

We know you flagged that fraud is a concern for you, so this is a quick update to tell you how we’re addressing concerns and supporting residents.

Young people can encounter harmful and extremist content online through social media, messaging apps, online forums and gaming platforms. In some cases, they may not fully understand the risks associated with viewing, sharing or engaging with this content, or the potential consequences it can have on their future.
To help address this, Counter Terrorism Policing has launched a summer awareness campaign aimed at 16 to 17-year-olds. The campaign encourages young people to think before they share online and reinforces the message that "what you share leaves a trace."
Parents, carers and family members have an important role to play in helping children and young people stay safe online. Taking an active interest in the apps they use, the websites they visit and the content they view can help identify concerns early and create opportunities for open and informed conversations about online safety.
Regular discussions about online behaviour, privacy settings and who young people interact with online can help them recognise risks and make safer choices. It is important to remember that harmful and extremist content can sometimes be encountered through seemingly innocent searches, recommended content or links shared by others.
By encouraging open conversations and creating a supportive environment, parents and carers can help young people navigate the online world safely and develop the confidence to question and report content that concerns them.

We consider fraud to be a serious crime and will put the time in to tackle it however we can. In the meantime, there are ways to keep yourself safe. 

Fraud comes in many forms and across various different channels, whether that's through emails, phone calls or in person encounters. Please see a few resources below to protect you and others from potential fraudsters:   

• Learn the ten golden rules to prevent fraud.
• Find out about the most common types of fraud.
• Download The Little Book of Big Scams to find out more. The Little Book of Big Scams audio version is also available.

 For more information and help and to report fraud, go to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. 

Lastly, if you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, please contact 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at Action Fraud.