In this Sydney classroom, an extraordinary sight unfolds. Year 5 students are engaged in a video game activity that is far from the ordinary lessons taught in primary schools. With headsets on, they fix their eyes intently on the screens. This game is a game-changer as it uses real-life scams to teach students how to spot online fraud.

Unlock the Secrets of Online Fraud Detection in Sydney's Classrooms

Real-life Scams in the Classroom

Students at Mosman Public School are playing a video game called Dodgy or Not?. This game is updated in real time as scammers constantly find new ways to trick and blackmail victims. Cyber safety educator Stacey Edmonds explains, "We take scams from the dark web and incorporate them into the game. We stay updated with everything new and emerging and add it to the game." Students are presented with a series of messages and social media posts and are asked to vote on their authenticity. Ms Edmonds designed the game with the help of a group of year 5 students. The goal is to encourage critical thinking and make students ask the crucial question: is it dodgy or not?

Online fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, using tools like generative artificial intelligence to create deepfake images and videos that are hard to distinguish from the real ones. Ms Edmonds notes, "We're constantly looking at scams, and sometimes we're amazed by how good they are. It makes it easier for cybercriminals to fool people online." In Australia, the annual loss due to cybercrime is estimated to be between $3 to $4 billion, and these are only the reported cases.

For the students who have played the game, they are gaining valuable insights into the potential hazards of the online world. 10-year-old Ruvimbo says, "It's good to be aware of it as we grow up with more AI and technology." Some students in the class have family members who have fallen victim to online fraud. For example, 10-year-old Jack shares, "My grandpa once got scammed out of about $1,000 because he doesn't know much about technology."

Teaching Critical Thinking

Cyber safety education has become a core focus. Ms Edmonds demonstrates how a deepfake video featuring an ABC journalist can be created in just a few minutes. She emphasizes, "This is a new phenomenon, and people aren't used to trusted brands being so easily impersonated."

Mona Sidhu, the cyber awareness and education manager for the NSW Department of Education, highlights the importance of teaching young people to question everything they see online and listen to their instincts. She says, "For these students, their friendships, relationships, shopping, and banking are all online, and that's where criminals lurk." There have been cases where students have been tricked into sending compromising photographs or blackmailed with deepfake pornographic images. Ms Sidhu warns, "Sextortion is a big problem for our students. It's already happening globally and is likely to hit us hard in the future."

Scammers are creative in finding our weak points. Ms Edmonds explains, "If you've been scammed once, you're more likely to be targeted again. People are repeatedly targeted." As digital natives, these students have already learned hard lessons about navigating online hazards and are eager to share their experiences with older generations. 11-year-old Ethan says, "Kids our age know more about the internet and online stuff, while older people might not have the same level of knowledge."

Try your hand at the quiz and see if you can spot the red flags for scams. Let's all work together to protect ourselves and our loved ones in the digital age.