A psychologist explained why responsible children have become the main victims of scammers.

      July 1, 2026 15:16 Society Many parents are convinced that trouble usually befalls difficult teenagers, and their obedient and responsible children will never become victims of phone scammers. But they are very mistaken. It is precisely children from well-off families who become easy prey for criminals, and just one call can completely change their lives.

      Why scammers target children

      The ideal portrait of a modern teenager who most often falls into the net of phone scammers is an honor student from a well-off family, engaged in various hobbies and never having gotten into trouble. This was stated in a comment to TASS by Valentina Shilina, head of the "Call Back Yourself" project at the Moscow Department of Information Technology. She emphasized that this concerns schoolchildren aged 14 to 17.

      Shilina noted that it is precisely children from good families, with their sense of responsibility and interests, who become easy targets for scammers. "It was a big revelation for me," she said.

      How teenagers are recruited

      Psychologists believe that children from well-off families, surrounded by the attention and care of loved ones, often do not suspect real threats. They are naive and trusting, which is exploited by scammers, said child and family psychologist Olesya Pokusaeva to 360.ru.

      Another factor attracting scammers is pocket money. Typically, it is kept on debit cards, and teenagers use banking apps. Scammers ask for money and start with small amounts to make children vulnerable. The first transfer becomes a trap: criminals begin to threaten that the money has gone to extremists, and the parents will bear the responsibility for this, and only the child can save the situation. The feeling of fear and love for family becomes a trap.

      "I work as a forensic expert, and I have already had several such cases where children and teenagers were told that their parents would go to jail, that they were putting them in danger, so they should atone for their mistake. Scammers present everything as assistance to government agencies, increasing pressure on responsibility," the psychologist explained.

      As an example, she recounted a situation where a schoolboy was forced to purchase an angle grinder and cut safes that were regularly delivered to him. The teenager sincerely believed he was participating in work for the benefit of the FSB.

      The psychologist noted that the adolescent psyche tends to divide the world into black and white, so they often carry out orders with full responsibility. Due to late maturation, scammers can exploit this, as teenagers are confident in their independence and do not seek help from parents. Pokusaeva emphasized that this is also related to the insufficient involvement of parents due to their busyness. As a result, children may become accomplices in crimes, and parents find out about it too late.

      What excessive responsibility leads to

      According to psychologists, modern children who bear responsibility for younger siblings, household chores, and other adult duties are less susceptible to the influence of scammers. They quickly learn to think critically and are more cautious about external threats.

      However, it is important not to overload teenagers with responsibility, as this can lead to inadequate compensation in the future. "Excessive independence is convenient for parents, but maturing too early is not always good. Especially if a teenager is given responsibilities that are not typical for their age," the expert explained.

      Parents should sound the alarm if a teenager begins to point out adults' mistakes. This may be a sign that they are overloaded with responsibilities and need help.

      It was previously reported that scammers stole nearly 1.5 billion rubles from Nizhny Novgorod residents in five months of 2026. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+