Children aged 11 to 17 are most vulnerable to scammers

Children between the ages of 11 and 17 are most vulnerable to scammers' tricks.

Scammers often target teens through their emotions, such as fear, excitement, curiosity, or a sense of urgency.

Children under 11 may also be deceived by offers of gifts, games or prizes.

MOSCOW, September 26 - RIA Novosti. Children from approximately 11 to 17 years of age are most vulnerable to the tricks of scammers, candidate of psychological sciences, clinical psychologist Svetlana Kolobova told RIA Novosti.

“Teenagers from 11-12 years old to 16-17 years old are the most vulnerable to scammers’ tricks: they want to decide everything themselves, but their ability to assess the risks and consequences of their actions is still developing. This is what makes them the most pliable,” Kolobova said.

The psychologist added that scammers most often influence teenagers through their emotions - fear, excitement, curiosity, a sense of urgency or falling in love. For example, she said, attackers may ask to “urgently” send personal data, card numbers or money.