Stop the Scam Countdown
A message warns your account closes in 10 minutes — tap the link and send your one-time code. The name looks familiar, but no one has checked it.
Ready-to-print worksheets
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In the year workbook
My Money YearThis lesson has a companion in the printable year workbook: pupil pp. 167–168, teacher companion p. 136.
Learning objectives
- Underline two pressure or danger clues in an urgent account-closure message
- Decide not to tap the link or share the one-time code, and say why
- Verify the claim through a separate trusted route instead of the message
Vocabulary
- Scam
- A trick that tries to take your money or information.
- Phishing
- A fake message that tries to steal your passwords or details.
- Personal Information
- Private details about you, like your name, address or passwords.
- Verify
- To check that something is really true before you trust it.
- Trusted Adult
- A grown-up you know well and can go to for help.
Materials
Minute-by-minute flow
5′
Hook
Teacher does
Read the story: a fictional message says “Your account closes in 10 minutes. Tap this link and send your one-time code.” The sender name looks familiar but is unchecked. Ask which card facts are known and what to find out.
Students do
Say what the message claims and what has not been checked.
10′
Model
Teacher does
Think aloud through task 1: underline two pressure or danger clues — the 10-minute countdown, the urgent closure claim, the link and the code request.
Students do
Mark two warning clues in the message.
20′
Practise
Teacher does
Set tasks 2 and 3: should you tap the link or share the code, and how could you verify the claim without using the message?
Students do
Answer no to the link and code, and plan to ask a trusted adult and use a known official route chosen independently.
7′
Discuss
Teacher does
Surface the misconception: a familiar name or polished design is not proof that a message is real — use invented messages only.
Students do
Explain why the sender name is not proof.
3′
Exit
Teacher does
Pose the reflection: what is the first safe action when a money message feels urgent?
Students do
Say: stop, do not act through the message, and check with a trusted adult.
Check for understanding
Does the learner refuse the link and one-time code, and verify the claim through a separate trusted route rather than the message?
Exit ticket
When a money message feels urgent, the first safe action is… (stop and check through a trusted route, never the message’s link or code).
Support
Highlight the timer, link and code request with three colours.
Stretch
Compare a second message that impersonates a friend and plan an independent check.
Home connection
Teach someone at home the stop-check-ask routine for an urgent money message — never tap its link or share a one-time code; check through a known route instead.