Million Bazillion

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AN illustration shows a person with a phone asking

Binglin Hu

How does online scamming work?

Our digital bread crumbs can make us vulnerable to online hacks.

Bridget and Ryan get swept up in a cyberpunk adventure as they try to answer Cooper’s question about how online data thefts can lead to real world consequences for your bank account. With the help of longtime friend of the program, Scam Slammer Host Brenda Hammer, the duo travel inside the internet to follow the trail of our digital bread crumbs, and see how advertisers and fraudsters get to know more about us than we might think.

LISTEN NOW!

An illustrated infographic shows different ways to avoid being scammed: Don't share personal information, use strong passwords and keep them safe, stay calm and skeptical if someone asks for your bank info and keep an eye on your money so you know if anything strange happens.

Binglin Hu

And now, some tips for grownups listening to “Million Bazillion” with kids!

Money Talks

After you listen to the episode, here are some conversation starters and questions you can ask your kid listener:

What are some steps we should take the next time we’re online to protect our personal information?
Why do you think scammers try to make something seem really urgent when they're trying to get into your bank account?
Have you ever clicked on something and then worried it might be a scam? What did you do next?
Were you surprised to learn the ways that your online activity can be tracked or known by others?
*Bonus* Not-So-Random Question: how would you describe what your parents do for work?

Tip Jar

For listeners who want to keep learning more about online theft, we’ve got ideas!

Want to learn more about protecting yourself from schemes, tricks and scams? Listen to our previous episode on ponzi schemes.
Follow that up with this episode from our friends at “Financially Inclined” all about the scams your teens should look out for.
If you’re a fan of Million Bazillion’s Brenda Hammer, then you’ll enjoy this episode about how to shop smart over the holidays.
Watch and play free math games, videos and activities with Cyberchase on PBS KIDS.

Gimme Five

Thanks for listening to this episode! We’re already working hard on the next season and we’d love your help! We’re looking for your answers to these Not-So-Random questions:

If you owned your own restaurant, what would you name it?
What’s the silliest thing you’ve said to convinvce your parents to buy you something?
Have you ever lent money to a friend, why or why not?
What’s the most valuable thing you own?

Record your Million Bazillionaire answering any or all of these questions and send the audio using this online form. We just might include your kid in an upcoming episode!

This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/million .

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