Scams

This resource is designed to introduce students to the need to be wary when an offer seems too good to be true. The resource contains an outline, guidance for teachers and a handout suitable for duplication for students. Students can use simulation or a more theoretical analysis of probability to work out why the proposed schemes are fraudulent.

Scams: Teacher Guidance. The outline of the resource states that it features three real-world examples of frauds and scams for students to analyse. It suggests that students only need little prior knowledge other than GCSE level probability and suggests possible extension activities.

Scams: Student Activity The first three pages of this document present the three scams. The first scam is an advert to predict to parents the gender of a next child, hints are only given in the teacher sheet. The second scam is about texts being received purporting to predict the outcome of football matches. Again the mathematics behind the problem is explained in the teacher notes. The third scam is based on an equally illegal pyramid scheme. The final page of this handout shows the first stages of the exponential growth of this type of scheme.

Teacher sheet provides a clear statement of the objectives and context of the resource which can be shared with the students. It suggests that an example of a similar scam is presented for discussion and provides links to two BBC sites which could be helpful. Each scam as shown in the student sheet is reproduced and the mathematics behind the scams is clearly presented. Advice is given about suitable questions for students to consider as the lesson progresses. Advice is also given about possible extension activities.