Five things people try
Games change. TikTok, Roblox, whatever comes next — doesn't matter. The tricks stay the same. Learn these five and you'll spot them anywhere.
If something already happened, you are not in trouble. Nobody is taking your phone or your account. Go to this page and it tells you exactly what to do next.
1. The move
"Let's talk on Discord instead."
They want to go somewhere nobody is watching and nothing gets saved. This is the most common first step, and it almost never means anything good.
2. The gift
"I'll send you free Robux."
Free stuff comes with a feeling that you owe them something. That feeling is the whole point. Sometimes the link also steals your account.
3. The wedge
"Don't tell your parents, they'll take your account."
They want you alone. Anyone who tells you to hide them from your family is telling you who they are.
4. The beam
"Use this item scanner to see what your stuff is worth."
Fake login pages. You type your password, they take the account. Getting beamed is bad on its own, and it is often how the rest starts.
5. The squeeze
"Send one more or I post the first one."
It never stops after one. Paying or sending more has never once made it end. This is the point where you tell someone, tonight.
Who to tell
People say "tell a trusted adult," which is useless if you're not sure you have one. So here's a real list. Pick whoever you'd actually talk to:
- A parent, stepparent, or whoever you live with
- A grandparent, aunt, uncle, or an older cousin who's grown
- Your school counselor — this is literally their job
- A teacher or coach you like
- A friend's parent
- Your youth pastor or someone at church
You don't have to explain it well. "Something happened online and I don't know what to do" is a complete sentence and it works.
If you'd rather not talk to anyone you know
You can call or text 988 any time, for free. You can also call 1-800-843-5678, which is for kids dealing with stuff online. Nobody there knows you and nobody is going to yell.