Free Robux, Fake Admins and Fake Friends: A Family Guide to Gaming Scams

Kids meet scammers in the same places they meet friends: games, Discord, Snapchat and DMs. The tricks are simple and they work, so talk about them before they happen.

The three alarms, kid version

• Hurry: "Do it right now or you lose it." Real friends can wait.

• Secret: "Don't tell your parents." That's the biggest alarm of all.

• Weird payment: Gift cards, Robux or V-Bucks codes, your login, or photos.

Two alarms at once means stop and tell an adult.

The tricks to know

• The "free Robux" message: A message says you won free Robux or a rare item. The link opens a fake login page. Type your password and the scammer takes the account, the items, and sometimes a parent's card.

• Fake game admins: "Roblox Support" or "Discord Staff" DMs saying you'll be banned unless you log in through their link.

• Fake friends who switch apps: A friendly gamer is super nice for weeks, gives compliments and free items, then asks to move to another app, keep secrets or send pictures, and then threatens.

• AI fake pictures: Bullies and scammers use AI to fake pictures of real kids. It's a crime. Tell an adult and report it.

• Easy money mentors: Older teens see people flexing cars and cash, offering to teach crypto or "easy money." Anyone promising easy money is lying, and real jobs never make you pay first.

The rule: Never log in from a link in a message. Real prizes don't come by DM. Show a trusted adult, then block and report.

If someone is threatening your child

• Stay calm and thank them for telling you. Make sure they know they are not in trouble.

• Don't pay and don't keep talking to the person. Save the usernames and screenshots, then block.

• Report it to NCMEC's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.

• If images were shared, NCMEC's Take It Down service (takeitdown.ncmec.org) can help get them removed.

• If your child is in danger, call 911. If they're struggling, call or text 988.

Family move for this week

Agree that anyone in the family can come to you about something online and nobody gets in trouble for telling. Then set up a family code word together.

Netivo teaches online safety and scam prevention for every generation, and helps families find the right agency when something goes wrong. Netivo does not give legal or financial advice and never charges victims to recover money. Questions or want a session for your group? Email inquiry@netivo.xyz.