Phishmael & FriendsOnline safety, in plain language
Short reads for grown-ups, one for every episode. Read, then watch together.
Scam Day: 6 Tricks Scammers Use on Kids (and the 3 Words That Beat Them All)
Scams aren't just emails anymore. In this episode of Phishmael & Friends, every resident of the Reef gets a different trick on the same day, and every one of th…
game chatFree Game Coins? How Scammers Steal Kids' Gaming Accounts
'Free coins!' 'Free skins!' 'Free gems!' If your child plays online games, they've probably seen offers like these. In this episode of Phishmael & Friends, Gary…
phone calls and textsHang Up, Look Up, Call Back: Beating Phone and Text Scams
Phone scams work because we trust voices and names on our screens. In this episode, Sharkley tries two classics, and the Reef learns how to beat them.…
AICan You Trust a Chatbot? 3 AI Safety Rules for Kids
Kids are meeting AI everywhere: homework helpers, chat apps, filters and games. In this episode, the Reef meets three AI tricks, and learns three simple rules.…
fake shopsHow to Spot a Fake Online Shop: 5 Clues for Families
Fake online shops are designed to look exciting, so you buy before you think. In this episode, Sharkley opens one, and Gary nearly empties his piggy bank. Here …
passwordsPassword123 Isn't a Password: The Easy Trick for Super-Strong Passwords
Some passwords are so popular that scammers try them first: 123456, password, qwerty, Password123. In this episode, SharkBot guesses Barry's in seconds, and bec…
emailCheck the Address, Not the Dress: How to Read a Suspicious Email
Modern scam emails can look perfect: the right logo, your real name, polite language and no spelling mistakes. In this episode, Professor Shelldon dissects one,…
delivery textsFake Delivery Texts: Why the Tiny Fee Is the Trap
"Your parcel is on hold. Pay 1.99 to release it." Fake delivery texts are one of the most common scam messages around, and they work because almost everyone is …
recapSeven Days, Seven Scams: A Family Recap
Gary's very bad week is a recap of the scams kids meet most: game chat offers, phone calls asking for codes, AI 'friends' asking personal questions, shops that …
oversharingWhat Scammers Learn From Your Child's Posts
Most scam messages go to thousands of people at once. Some are written for one person, using details found online. That's called spear phishing, and it works be…
work scamsThe Boss Scam: Gift Cards, New Numbers and Secrets
CEO fraud is when a scammer pretends to be a boss, a teacher or a coach and asks for money, gift cards or an urgent payment.…
account securityTwo-Step Login: The Second Lock Every Family Needs
Passwords leak all the time, often from websites you used years ago. Two-step login (also called MFA) means a stolen password isn't enough on its own.…
romance scamsOnline Friends Who Ask for Money: Spotting the Pattern
Romance and friendship scams are slow. The scammer spends weeks being kind and attentive, then an emergency appears that only money can fix.…
QR codesQR Code Scams: How to Peek Before You Scan
A QR code is just a web address you can't read, which is exactly why scammers like them. Fake stickers on parking meters and posters send people to lookalike pa…
public Wi-FiIs Free Wi-Fi Safe? A Teen's Guide to Fake Hotspots
Anyone can create a Wi-Fi network and give it a convincing name. Fake hotspots near cafés, airports and stations are used to collect passwords through fake logi…
job scamsFake Job Offers and Task Scams: What Teens Need to Know
Fake jobs promise easy money from home: liking videos, rating products, or 'tasks'. Then comes a starter kit fee, or payments to unlock bigger tasks. The money …
hacked accountsMy Child's Account Got Hacked: What to Do Next
Hacked accounts spread scams fast, because messages come from people you trust. 'Is this you in this video?' links and 'send me the code to vote for me' message…
recapFamily Quiz Night: The Spot the Scam Championship
This episode is a recap of the second set of lessons, built as a game show you can play along with at home.…
password managersPassword Managers Explained: One Strong Lock for Everything
When a website is hacked, criminals try the leaked passwords on email, games and banking. If you reuse a password, one leak can open every door.…
MFA fatigueLogin Pings You Didn't Ask For: What to Tell Your Kids
Many apps protect accounts with a second check: when someone logs in, your phone asks "Is this you?" and you tap Yes or No.…
updatesWhy Updates Matter: Explaining Software Updates to Kids
Every app is made by people, and people make small mistakes. Some of those mistakes, called bugs, leave little holes that criminals know how to use.…
scary pop-upsScary Virus Pop-Ups: What Kids Should Do
Fake virus warnings, sometimes called scareware, use sirens, flashing colours and countdowns to make people panic and phone a "support" number.…
fake appsFree Game Cheats and Fake Apps: A Parent's Guide
Children love free coins, cheats and mods, and scammers know it. Downloads from random websites can hide malware that steals passwords and game accounts.…
privacyOversharing Online: Helping Kids Post Safely
One post says where you are. Another says when you'll leave. Another shows your front door. Together they can tell a stranger far more than anyone meant to shar…
what to doMy Child Clicked a Bad Link: What to Do in the First Few Minutes
Everyone clicks something they shouldn't at some point. What matters is what happens next, and panic or hiding gives scammers more time.…
ransomwareRansomware and Backups, Explained for Families
Ransomware locks files and demands payment to unlock them. It often arrives through an unexpected attachment or link.…
recapThe Shields Up Escape Room: A Family Online Safety Recap
This episode recaps the Raising the Shields arc as an escape room with seven locks.…
AI-powered scamsHow Scammers Use AI, and Why the Old Tricks Still Give Them Away
AI tools let scammers write convincing messages quickly, in perfect language, and personalised using public posts.…
AI voice clonesAI Voice Clones and the Family Code Word
Voice cloning tools can copy a person's voice from a few seconds of audio, and scammers use them to fake calls from family members in trouble.…
AI-written scamsScam Messages Without Typos: What to Check Instead
For years we taught people to spot scams by their mistakes. AI chatbots can now fix spelling in a second, so a polished message proves nothing.…
deepfakesDeepfakes for Kids: Is That Video Real?
Deepfakes are videos or pictures made with AI that show people saying or doing things they never did. Scammers use trusted faces to sell fake giveaways.…
AI privacyUsing AI Chatbots Safely: A Guide for Families
Chatbots can help with ideas, explanations and creative projects, and children are already using them.…
fake AI appsFake AI Apps and "Free Premium" Downloads
Popular AI tools attract copycats: "free premium" versions, fake apps and browser add-ons that steal passwords or show unwanted adverts.…
family safetyFamily Online Safety: Three Rules Everyone Can Use
Scams target every generation, and the best defence is a family that talks.…
everything at onceTexts, Calls and Fake Websites: One Answer for Every Trick
Modern scams can come from several directions at once: a worrying text, a call in a familiar voice, a website that looks real.…
finaleStop. Look. Ask: The Whole Season in Three Words
The season finale brings together everything the Reef has learned: peek before you scan, ask the code word, tap No, check before you share.…