As the school holidays approach, so too does a dramatic rise in screen time — and with it, a growing risk many parents overlook: online scams targeting children.

According to Leon Jacobs, Chief Information Officer at RCS Financial Services, a staggering 95% of South African children are regularly online, yet fewer than half receive any formal online safety education. It’s a concerning gap, especially for tech-savvy families who assume their “digital native” kids are naturally cyber-aware.

“Digital fluency doesn’t equal cyber awareness,” said Jacobs, speaking on Hot Business with Jeremy Maggs and Moneyweb. “Parents need to stop assuming their children know what to look out for.”

From fake modeling contracts and online competitions to impersonators posing as legitimate lenders, online predators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Children, often engrossed in social apps like TikTok and WhatsApp, are easy targets — and scammers know it.

So what can financially astute parents and caregivers do?

Jacobs urges a two-pronged approach: parental education and open, adult-level conversations with kids. “It’s not about fear or control — it’s about empowering them to make smart, safe choices online,” he says.

He also warns that scams often impersonate reputable institutions. “A real credit provider, like RCS, will never ask for upfront payments or deposits,” he explains. “If it feels off, it probably is.”

The conversation isn’t just for homes — it belongs in schools too. Jacobs advocates for cybersecurity as a core subject in modern education, calling on schools to do more to prepare children for the digital world.

As always, prevention starts with awareness — and with holidays around the corner, there’s no better time to start the conversation.