Lesson

Online Shopping Scams

6-8th Grades

45 min

Summary

Forty-five dollars can feel like a steal — until you realize you just handed it to a criminal. This lesson breaks down the most common online scams targeting teens and gives students a concrete action plan for what to do when a deal turns into a theft.

Activities

Bellringer: The Deal That's Too Good

Display the sneaker scenario and give students 1-2 minutes to write their reasoning
Cold-call a few students before revealing the 70% statistic on the next slide

5 min

Instruction

Walk through fake storefronts, gaming currency scams, and suspicious payment methods one concept per slide
Use the Red Flags slide as a checklist students can reference later
Reinforce that getting scammed is a crime committed against them, not a personal failure

15 min

Discussion: Whose Fault Is It?

Facilitate a class conversation on shame, blame, and reporting culture
Push students to articulate their own responsibility for protecting their financial actions online

10 min

Activity: Dangerous Websites in Workbook

Have students complete pages 11-12 of the Dangerous Websites workbook independently
Circulate to check that students can identify red flags in each example storefront

10 min

Wrap-Up & Assessment

List 2 red flags you'd see in a scam storefront.
What would you tell a friend who got scammed buying something online without their parent's permission?

5 min

Est. Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Bellringer: The Deal That's Too Good	Display the sneaker scenario and give students 1-2 minutes to write their reasoning Cold-call a few students before revealing the 70% statistic on the next slide
15 min	Instruction	Walk through fake storefronts, gaming currency scams, and suspicious payment methods one concept per slide Use the Red Flags slide as a checklist students can reference later Reinforce that getting scammed is a crime committed against them, not a personal failure
10 min	Discussion: Whose Fault Is It?	Facilitate a class conversation on shame, blame, and reporting culture Push students to articulate their own responsibility for protecting their financial actions online
10 min	Activity: Dangerous Websites in Workbook	Have students complete pages 11-12 of the Dangerous Websites workbook independently Circulate to check that students can identify red flags in each example storefront
5 min	Wrap-Up & Assessment	List 2 red flags you'd see in a scam storefront. What would you tell a friend who got scammed buying something online without their parent's permission?

Lesson Prep

Digital Citizenship Workbook

Offline activities about passwords, malware, and digital wellness.

Digital Citizenship Workbook

Offline activities about passwords, malware, and digital wellness.

Workbook

60 min

Class Presentation

Includes an 18-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.

Presentations, Ready to Go

Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout

Unit 2: Internet Safety

Phishing & Scam Messages

Phishing isn't just about sketchy links — the best scams look like your bank, your school, or your best friend. This lesson breaks down the psychology behind phishing tactics and gives students concrete habits to verify before they click.

6-8th Grades

45 Min

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