As mobile phones become part of everyday life from a young age, a troubling new trend is emerging in the UK: scammers are increasingly targeting children and teenagers. In 2025, these scams go far beyond nuisance calls and spam texts. Fraudsters now impersonate trusted figures—parents, teachers, even schoolmates—to deceive young people into revealing personal information or taking risky actions.
With many children owning a phone by age 10—or even younger—they’ve become fluent in messaging, video calls, and apps. But that digital fluency doesn’t always translate to caution. Scammers exploit trust, urgency, and emotional manipulation—tactics that children, especially, may not be prepared to handle.
That’s why parents in the UK must go beyond basic digital safety chats. It's crucial to take active steps to safeguard children's phone lines, limit exposure, and teach scam awareness.
Why Scammers Are Now Targeting UK Children
Criminals are quick to adapt. As adults become warier of scams, fraudsters are turning to younger, less experienced mobile users—those who are often more trusting and impulsive.
According to a 2025 survey by the UK-based organisation Internet Matters, more than a third of children aged 10–17 reported receiving at least one suspicious call or message in the past year. Here's why scammers see young people as straightforward targets:
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They’re reachable: Children’s mobile numbers can be accessed via gaming platforms, school-related apps, or social media accounts.
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They respond to pressure: scammers use fake emergencies or emotional tricks to force immediate action.
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They lack experience: Most children aren’t taught how to spot scams and may fall for impersonation tactics.
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They’re a gateway: even if the child isn't the primary target, they may unknowingly share details that compromise family security—like Wi-Fi passwords or parents’ whereabouts.
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They trust adults: Children are taught to listen to teachers, police, or relatives. Scammers impersonate these figures to bypass suspicion.
Common Phone Scams Aimed at UK Kids in 2025
Scammers don’t just repurpose adult scams—they fine-tune them for younger users. Here are the most common tactics seen in the UK this year:
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Fake Emergency Calls: A scammer pretends to be a parent or authority figure in trouble, urging the child to share login details, money transfer codes, or other private info.
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Prize or Contest Scams: Scammers often claim, “You’ve won an Amazon voucher!” or “Please claim your complimentary Xbox now!” These tricks get children to click on malicious links or hand over personal details.
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Friend Impersonation: Using spoofed caller IDs or hacked social accounts, scammers pose as schoolmates asking for help, gaming credits, or sensitive info.
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Subscription & App Traps: Children may be tricked into signing up for bogus services with hidden fees or providing access to apps that harvest data.
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AI Voice Cloning: Scammers now use AI-generated voices to impersonate real parents or teachers. This makes it extremely difficult for children to tell what’s real.
The Impact on UK Families
Scams can have far-reaching effects when they target a child.
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Emotional distress: Children can feel frightened, embarrassed, or guilty after falling for a scam.
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Financial damage: Kids may unwittingly share passwords, debit card details, or spend on digital wallets.
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Privacy exposure: Scammers may gain access to addresses, school names, daily routines, or parents' job details.
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Security risks: Smart home systems or work-from-home tools can be compromised through seemingly harmless information.
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Loss of trust: Falling victim may make children less likely to report issues in the future out of fear or shame.
What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Children
It takes more than just a “be careful” reminder. Here’s how to create a safer mobile experience for your child:
1. Have Honest Conversations
Talk regularly about scams and remind your child:
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Never to answer unknown numbers or respond to unexpected texts
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Not to share any personal or family information over the phone
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To come to you straight away if anything feels off or confusing
2. Use a Call Blocking Device
Tools like CPR Call Blocker—a British brand—offer robust protection for your home phone or shared landline.
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Preloaded with thousands of known scam numbers
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Detects spoofed and international fraud attempts
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Easy to manually block any number with the touch of a button
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No subscription or apps required
Ideal for households where children might be answering shared phones.
3. Set Up Parental Controls
On smartphones (iOS and Android), you can:
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Limit who can call or text your child
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Disable calls from unknown numbers
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Monitor call and message history
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Set app permissions to restrict risky downloads
These settings offer a strong layer of digital filtering—especially helpful for children under 13.
4. Reduce Financial Risk
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Avoid saving debit or credit card information on your child’s devices.
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Use gift cards or prepaid methods for app purchases.
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Remind your child never to share bank info or login credentials—no matter how “urgent” the request seems.
5. Do Practice Runs
Role-play potential scam scenarios with your child, like:
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“Mupracticen accident. I need your help—send money!”
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“Hi, it’s Mr Davies from school. I need your home Wi-Fi code.”
Help them practise safe responses—such as hanging up, checking with a trusted adult, or ignoring suspicious messages entirely.
Why CPR Call Blocker Is a Trusted Choice
One of the UK's leading call-blocking solutions is the CPR Call Blocker. The CPR Call Blocker is used in both households and healthcare settings, and it offers:
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Pre-programmed protection: It immediately blocks thousands of known scam numbers.
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One-touch blocking: Users can instantly block unwanted numbers with a single press.
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Custom control: Full manual control for managing your blacklist.
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This feature provides peace of mind for vulnerable groups, especially elderly patients frequently targeted by scammers.
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No monthly fees: It is a cost-effective solution for both households and healthcare providers, as it is a one-time purchase with no ongoing subscription costs.
Healthcare providers, care homes, and community services across the UK trust CPR Call Blocker to safeguard communications and streamline operations.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, mobile scams targeting children are a real and growing threat across the UK. But parents are far from powerless.
By educating your children, setting up parental controls, and investing in tools like CPR Call Blocker, you can reduce the risk dramatically. More importantly, you’re building your child’s confidence to handle digital threats safely and smartly.
Your child’s phone should be a tool for learning and connection—not a gateway for scammers.
Please browse our selection of products or contact us so we can assist you.
