ESL lesson plan | B1 | Don't get scammed: Recognizing online fraud

Summary

This downloadable ESL lesson plan helps students discuss online safety and scams. This class material is perfect for teaching practical English skills for recognizing online fraud, with vocabulary, grammar, and speaking activities.

Based on a news report about travel scams, this lesson engages students with a variety of practical tasks. Activities include a vocabulary matching exercise, video comprehension questions, a gap-fill with useful phrases for giving advice, and a grammar focus on using the imperative mood for warnings. The lesson culminates in a role-play where students must decide if an online offer is a scam, solidifying their understanding in a communicative context.

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Activities

Students start by discussing their online shopping habits and how they determine if a website is safe, activating their existing knowledge and vocabulary on the topic of e-commerce.
A vocabulary matching exercise introduces key terms essential for understanding online fraud, such as 'copycat site,' 'red flag,' 'fine print,' and 'legitimate'.
Students watch a short news report about common travel scams and answer true/false questions to check their listening comprehension and understanding of the key warning signs.
Learners practice giving advice and warnings by completing sentences with phrases like 'watch out for' and 'double check,' preparing them for the grammar and speaking tasks.
The lesson provides clear instruction on using the imperative for giving advice, followed by a practice exercise where students respond to different scam scenarios.
A final role-play activity allows students to apply all the language from the lesson. One student presents a 'too good to be true' deal, while the other gives advice.

00:00 Travel brands, booking flights, hotels and rental cars online is popular for travelers.

00:08 Among the legitimate websites, you need to watch out for copycat sites. These scam websites will either just steal your money or will infiltrate your system.

00:19 Yvonne Caron of Brand Shield, a digital risk protection company, shared with us these examples. He says his company detects suspicious travel websites. Take a look to appear to be major airlines. Another, a popular travel booking site. But Karen says they're fake and the scam often starts with a targeted ad on social media.

00:39 You're reaching a page that gives you some special offer and you want to take it. Take a minute. Be careful. Go to the main website of the company, see that you can really reach the same deal through the main website in 2024.

00:53 According to the FTC, consumers lost $274 million to travel scams with the average loss just under $1,000. Another way scammers target you when you search for travel.

01:06 In some cases, when you see ads on Google or other search engines, those ads sometimes come up as one 800 number or customer service number for a certain airline or a hotel. And that's especially when your flight is canceled or something like that. And these are many times scams. Be very careful and make sure that you're calling the right number. Double check it. Make sure that you reach the right website to protect your money.

01:34 When booking any kind of travel, don't pay until you read the fine print. If you're not booking directly with the airline or hotel, use extreme caution when booking through a third party travel website. Make sure you take a look at the cancellation policy to see whether the trip is refundable. And if the communication goes to private messaging on social media or text, that's often a big red flag. You are dealing with a scammer. And remember, paying with a credit card always gives you the best protection.

Vocabulary focus

The lesson focuses on practical vocabulary for identifying and discussing online fraud. Key terms include: "scam," "legitimate," "copycat site," "suspicious," "fine print," "refundable," a "red flag," and "third party." These words empower students to describe deceptive online practices and protect themselves.

Grammar focus

The main grammar point is the imperative mood, used for giving direct advice, instructions, and warnings. Students learn to form both positive (e.g., 'Check the URL') and negative imperatives (e.g., 'Don't click the link') to provide clear, actionable advice about online safety.

Don't get scammed: Recognizing online fraud

Summary

Activities

Vocabulary focus

Grammar focus

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