Telenor warns of Snapchat scam targeting children

Telenor has reported over ten instances in two weeks of a scam targeting children on social media platforms including Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord. Scammers pose as friends or classmates who claim to be “locked out” of their accounts and request that the child forward an SMS code.

In reality, the code is used to authorize digital purchases that are charged directly to the family's mobile phone bill. Per Olsen, security chief at Telenor, described the tactic as a “cynical form of fraud” that exploits children's trust. He noted that while companies can filter much traffic, they cannot easily block private conversations between children.