Get to know the game
Ask your child to show you a typical round. Who plays with them? Can others send private messages? What happens if a player is unpleasant? Find mute, block and report together, and discuss when to take a break.
Work out the cost in real money
Game currency, skins and subscriptions can make the total cost difficult to see. Convert a purchase into real money and check for recurring payments. Agree a budget and a way to approve purchases before a time-limited offer appears.
Review purchase controls on the phone, console or game account. An agreement in a web app does not automatically block payments in a game.
Keep passwords and one-time codes private
Free game currency and cheap items can be used as bait. Do not give anyone passwords or one-time codes, even if they offer help in the game. Use the official store and open it yourself rather than following a chat link.
A familiar player’s name or picture does not prove they sent an offer. Check through a contact method you already know if a message seems unusual.
If your child has been scammed
Help your child deal with what happened. If someone may have accessed the account, use the game provider’s help to secure it and review active logins. If money was paid, ask the payment provider what you can do. Record and report the incident without promising your child that money or items will be recovered.