Skip to Main Content
Doing More Today
  • News
  • Community
    • Associates in Action
    • Community Engagement
    • Small Business
    • Economic Development
  • Insights & Innovation
    • Economic Commentary
    • Insights
    • Innovation
  • Financial Wellness
    • Financial Wellness
    • Fraud Prevention
  • See the Good
    • Culture
    • Good Company
    • Good Towns
    • Good Pets
    • Ecards
    • Recipes
    • Riding Forward
Subscribe Now
Regions Bank

Regions Bank: Doing More Today: Good stories. Better insights. More possibilities.

Share
Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share on LinkedIn
Share via Email
Subscribe
Staying Safe Online
Category: Fraud Prevention

Keeping Children and Teens Safe Online: 8 Important Tips

As classes meet online, fraudsters are looking for new ways to steal personal information.

By Doug Segrest | April 21, 2020

For many Americans, online access has become a lifeline – to church, classes, family and friends – during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools have moved online, creating a digital environment of learning. But without safeguards, our children can be left exposed to predators.

Protecting their personal information and safety must remain a priority.

“It’s always good to take proactive steps to stay safe online,” said Don White, head of Corporate Security at Regions. “It’s especially important now. With our students spending so much time online during the pandemic, we need to make sure they have the tools and knowledge to keep bad actors away.”

For parents, sharing these tips can help keep your loved ones safe, while protecting their personal information:

  1. Know who you are talking to. Keep your online profile private, and only share with actual friends. Never talk to strangers online.
  2. Be extremely cautious with photos you share. Don’t share anything you wouldn’t want seen by everybody. Remember, when it goes online, it can be permanent.
  3. Limit your personal information, including your full name, address, school, phone number and passwords.
  4. Avoid online quizzes. They may seem harmless – and even fun. But it’s an easy way to gather personal information you don’t need to share.
  5. Before you download a new app, verify it. There are plenty of third-party reviews to tell if an app is legitimate.
  6. Install tools to block malware and ads, and set up your browser to reject unsecure connections.
  7. Don’t agree to meet someone in-person who you don’t already know.
  8. If you feel something’s wrong, alert your parents or a trusted adult.

“As much as technology helps us, it also leaves us more vulnerable,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics for Regions. “Monitor online activity and have frank discussions about the risks associated. Chances are your child will already be aware, and the reinforcement will help them make good decisions.”

For more information: Online Security from the Department of Homeland Security

Keeping Your Finances and Identity Safe: 6 Common-Sense Tips to Stop Fraud

Share
Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share on LinkedIn
Share via Email
Subscribe

Trending Articles

  • 1.

    10 Tips to Avoid Back-to-School Scams

  • 2.

    September 2025 | Economic Commentary

  • 3.

    3 Tips to Avoid Retail Refund Scams

  • 4.

    August 2025 | Economic Commentary

  • 5.

    The Peak of Hurricane Season: Avoiding Disaster Scams

Related Articles

Hurricane Disaster Scams graphic with the Donate button.
Category: Fraud Prevention

The Peak of Hurricane Season: Avoiding Disaster Scams

Julia Gardner, Financial Manager, Business Support; Jim Kersey, Consumer Banking...
Category: Culture

Congratulations Banking School Grads!

Back-to-School Backpack Drive at Tampa and Regions Next Step Reality...
Category: Community Engagement

Opening Doors to a New School Year

P2P Fraud illustration.
Category: Fraud Prevention

P2P Fraud: 8 Tips to Stay Safe

Bruce Pearl, Auburn men’s basketball coach.
Category: Community Engagement

From Final Four to Blue Shoe Ball

Exterior view of Justin's Place.
Category: Community Engagement

A Soft Place to Land

  • 3 Tips to Avoid Retail Refund Scams
  • College Prep
  • ‘False Alarm, Real Scam’
  • 5 Red Flags of Job Scams
Regions.com | About Regions | Investor Relations | Privacy & Security | Website Terms of Use | Contact Regions | Careers at Regions
© 2025 Regions Bank Member FDIC |
All Rights Reserved | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | Online Privacy