← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Too-good-to-be-true offers and pop-ups

A free prize, free gift or scary pop-up is often a trick. Do not click it or give your details. Close it and tell an adult.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Staying Safe Online — Module 26, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 30

Understanding Too-good-to-be-true offers and pop-ups in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The code shows the safe choice: when an offer is a free prize, you do not click it. Closing the pop-up and telling an adult are the two safe steps to take when a pop-up scares you. Real games do not ask for your password in exchange for free game currency. Scammers use free gems to steal accounts. Free prizes plus pressure to act fast are classic warning signs. Offers from a trusted adult are a different situation. Scary pop-ups try to make you panic. Do not click them. Close the pop-up and get help from an adult. If you never entered a contest, you cannot have won it. Giving your details to a trick message can put your privacy at risk.

Common mistakes: A 'You have won' pop-up is a trick. Line 3 should be 'close the popup', not click the prize button. Free game gems offers are often tricks to steal your details. Line 3 should close the offer, not ask you to type your password.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 157–173) and word search (Modules 137–225).

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Learning
Duo
A pop-up says: 'You have won a free phone! Click here now!' What should you do?
Do not click it. Close it and tell an adult.Click it quickly before the prize disappears.
Matches
Pop-up: Your game account will be deleted! Call now! -> click("Call now")
↓
Clicking or calling because a scary pop-up says to. Scary pop-ups use fear to rush you, so you should close it and tell an adult.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Too-good-to-be-true offer
Meaning
A free prize, free gift or scary pop-up is often a trick. Do not click it or give your details. Close it and tell an adult.
Practice
IF pop-up says "You have won free gems!" THEN
Testing
Gaps
()
Check Answer
Spots
2 do not click it
3 click the prize button

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Quick Questions

1. A pop-up says: 'You have won a free phone! Click here now!' What should you do?
A. Click it quickly before the prize disappears.
B. Do not click it. Close it and tell an adult. ✓
Surprise prizes you did not enter for are often tricks. Closing the pop-up and telling an adult keeps you safe.
2. A website says: 'Get 10,000 free gems! Just type your username and password.' What is this most likely to be?
A. A trick to steal your account ✓
B. A kind gift from the game company
Real games do not ask for your password in exchange for free game currency. Scammers use free gems to steal accounts.
3. Which one is a sign that an offer might be a trick?
A. It was shown to you by your teacher in class
B. It promises a big free prize and tells you to hurry ✓
Free prizes plus pressure to act fast are classic warning signs. Offers from a trusted adult are a different situation.
4. A loud pop-up says: 'Warning! Your device has a virus! Click here to fix it!' What is the safest choice?
A. Close it and tell an adult ✓
B. Click the button to fix the virus
Scary pop-ups try to make you panic. Do not click them. Close the pop-up and get help from an adult.
5. True or false: If a message says 'You have won!', you should give your name and address to claim the prize.
A. False. Do not give your details. ✓
B. True. Winners must give their details.
If you never entered a contest, you cannot have won it. Giving your details to a trick message can put your privacy at risk.

Match the Pairs

FREE 5000 V-Bucks! Click here! → A too-good-to-be-true offer for free game currency that is probably a trick
Congratulations! You have won a prize! → A fake win message that tries to get you to click or give your details
Free prizes and free gifts are often a trick, so do not click them or type in your details → if offer == "free prize": click = False
If a scary pop-up appears, close it and tell an adult → close(popup) tell(adult)
Pop-up: Your game account will be deleted! Call now! -> click("Call now") → Clicking or calling because a scary pop-up says to. Scary pop-ups use fear to rush you, so you should close it and tell an adult.
Free gift card! -> enter(name, password, address) → Giving your name, password and address to get a free gift. Free gifts are often tricks, and you should never hand over your details.

Key Term

Too-good-to-be-true offer
A free prize, free gift or scary pop-up is often a trick. Do not click it or give your details. Close it and tell an adult.

Fill in the Blanks

1. closePopup() tellAdult()
Hint: Type the function name that shuts a scary pop-up window.
2. IF popup = "Free gems!" THEN tellAdult()
Hint: Type the function name that gets help from a grown-up.
3. IF offer = "free gift" THEN closePopup() tellAdult()
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a decision in pseudocode.
4. shareDetails = false closeOffer()
Hint: Type the Boolean value that means we do NOT give out our details.
5. IF isTrick = true THEN closePopup() tellAdult()
Hint: Type the Boolean value that means the offer is a trick.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A if popup says YOU HAVE WON:
B do not click it
C click the prize button
D tell an adult
Line C — A 'You have won' pop-up is a trick. Line 3 should be 'close the popup', not click the prize button.
Question 2
A if offer says FREE GAME GEMS:
B do not type my details
C type password to get gems
D tell an adult
Line C — Free game gems offers are often tricks to steal your details. Line 3 should close the offer, not ask you to type your password.
Question 3
A if popup says VIRUS FOUND:
B do not call the number
C do not click Fix Now
D do not tell anyone
Line D — A scary pop-up should always be shown to a trusted adult. Line 4 should be 'tell an adult', not keep it secret.
Question 4
A offer = "FREE 5000 COINS"
B if offer seems too good:
C trust = true
D click = false
Line C — An offer that seems too good to be true should not be trusted. Line 3 should be 'trust = false'.
Question 5
A prize = "free game gems"
B give_details = true
C close(popup)
D tell(adult)
Line B — You should never give your details for a free prize. Line 2 should be 'give_details = false'.

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