The SAFE Check: help kids spot a too-good-to-be-true online prize

Your child is playing a game or watching a video when a bright message pops up: "FREE PRIZE! Tap NOW to claim!" 🎁 It feels exciting — and that is exactly the point. A "free prize" pop-up is one of the most common tricks kids meet online, and it is designed to make them tap before they think.

Here is the calm, four-step habit that turns that moment into a smart decision. Byte the robot calls it the SAFE check — and once kids know it, they can use it on their own.

The SAFE check

S — Stop ✋

Don't tap yet. A real prize can wait a minute; a fake one is counting on you to rush. That "act NOW or lose it" feeling is itself the first red flag.

A — Ask 🙋

Show a trusted adult before doing anything — a parent, teacher or carer. You are not in trouble; you are being smart. Grown-ups have seen these tricks before.

F — Find clues 🔎

Look for the warning signs together:

• Pressure — a countdown, or "only 3 left!"
• A strange link — an address that looks odd, random or misspelled
• Personal details — it asks for a name, password, address, or a parent's card

E — Exit 🚪

Close the screen. Fill in nothing. Then report or block it if you can. Nothing bad happens when you walk away from a fake prize.

The one rule to remember

Never share passwords or private details to claim an online prize. Real giveaways don't need your password — and they never rush you.

📄 Free printable: Download the Byte SAFE checklist and stick it near the screen at home or in the classroom.

For parents and teachers

Keep it calm and empowering — the goal isn't to scare children off the internet, but to give them a habit they own. A great question to ask: "What clues would make you stop?" Let them spot the red flags themselves; that is what makes the lesson stick.

Want to practise? Byte's free Digital Money Detective game lets kids spot online money scams in a safe, playful way — no sign-up, no ads.