Fighting scams starts in school

Digital awareness gap

Cybersecurity challenges become more subtle at the college level.

Gao Jing, a lecturer at the Cyber Information Center of Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), observed that college students clearly recognize online risks but remain highly confident in their technical skills.

"They often believe they can spot and avoid traps, so they underestimate the need for caution," she said. "This 'knowing but not acting' paradox is the biggest concern."

During National Cybersecurity Week, the university held a "Cyber Police on Campus" event to help students become more aware of online dangers.

Gao emphasized that scams targeting college students are increasingly tailored to their interests and spending habits, making them harder to detect.

"For example, students obsessed with pop idols often struggle to resist so-called 'exclusive ticket' offers, while those who shop online regularly can easily fall for 'refund and compensation' scams," she explained.

To counter these tailored schemes, Gao said educational strategies must evolve. For example, BTBU now incorporates attack-and-defense drills and simulated scam calls into cybersecurity lessons, helping students understand the psychology behind these tricks and improve their judgment.

This training focuses not only on skills but also on mindset. "Monitoring students' well-being and providing rapid support channels are just as important as teaching cybersecurity," Gao said, noting that students under high stress or financial pressure are particularly vulnerable.

"Many students want financial independence as soon as they enter college," said 19-year-old Xu Jiarong from the audience. "When their guard is down, they may easily fall for part-time jobs or online tasks promising 'low investment, high returns'."

New graduates anxious about stepping into society are also at risk. "Those who are impatient for quick success and lack social experience are the easiest targets," added 18-year-old Zhao Yixuan.

For these first-year students, digital literacy isn't abstract — it's something they actively put into practice. When faced with AI-generated misinformation, for example, they have developed their own strategies. Zhao checks for logical inconsistencies. "Some of AI's statements don't follow normal reasoning," he said. Xu, meanwhile, recognizes certain AI templates and phrasing, emphasizing the importance of tracing sources and cross-checking information.

Sometimes, they even "fight fire with fire" — using third-party AI tools to detect whether suspicious content was AI-generated.

They also use their digital skills to protect family members from online scams. Xu noticed that older relatives are often more easily deceived, both because of limited digital experience and their desire for social connection.

"Especially with new scams like AI face-swapping or synthetic voices, they can be particularly convincing," she said, adding that she routinely helps her elders remove fraudulent messages from their phones and carefully explains the risks.

Zhao shares videos of trending scams with his family. "Staying in touch matters," he said. "If a scammer pretends to be me, a single phone call can clear up any misunderstanding."

He sums up his role simply: "My job is just to pre-bunk. Once I've warned them about a scam, it loses its power when someone tries it on them."