Page 84 - Cyber Safety C-7

Stranger Messages

You may sometimes receive messages on social media or
chat apps from strangers. They might try to be friendly, but
their intentions can be harmful. Some may ask for personal
information or try to trick you into giving money. Never trust
strangers online just because they seem polite in a chat.
Strangers may pretend to be your age or share fake stories
to gain your trust. They can also send unsafe links or photos. Always ignore such messages and

avoid replying.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves sending rude, threatening or hurtful
messages through chats, games or online groups. It is done
to embarrass, insult or upset someone. This behaviour is
a serious form of harassment and is never acceptable.
Cyberbullying can affect someone’s confidence and mental
health. It is important to save evidence, block the bully and

report the behaviour to a trusted adult or platform. Everyone
deserves to feel safe online.

21 st
Century #Information Literacy
Skills
MEHUL’S DILEMMA
In today’s connected world, students often face situations where online threats can put their safety
at risk. Mehul, a responsible student and class homework coordinator, received an email that
seemed urgent but appeared suspicious. The email asked him to confirm his identity for a new
student portal and provided a link to do so. Shortly after, Mehul received a WhatsApp message
from a “new student” asking for homework details, which seemed strangely timed. His instincts told
him something wasn’t right and he decided to investigate further. On closer inspection, the email
had spelling mistakes and the WhatsApp number had no profile picture or mutual contacts. After
thinking it through, Mehul decided not to click on the link. He reported the suspicious email to a
trusted adult and made sure to follow up on the situation.
Based on the above case, answer the following questions:

1. What were the main signs that the email and message were suspicious?

2. Why is it important for Mehul to trust his instincts in such situations?

82 Computer Science - VII