Scam Prevention at Irvine

At Impactt Kids, our mission has always been rooted in education — not just for youth, but for every generation. While we often focus on helping students build skills in coding and public speaking, our work goes far beyond that. We believe true impact happens when we connect with people across all stages of life — and that’s exactly what happened during our recent visit to a senior center in Irvine, California.

On Saturday, June 14, our team had the incredible opportunity to lead a scam prevention workshop designed specifically for seniors. In a world where technology is constantly evolving, scams have become increasingly sophisticated — often targeting those who may not have grown up with digital tools or online safety education. Unfortunately, this makes many seniors more vulnerable to fraud and deception, whether it’s a phishing email, a fake tech support call, or a misleading message asking for personal information.

We wanted to change that — not with fear, but with knowledge.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Space

From the moment we stepped into the Irvine senior center, the energy was warm, welcoming, and open. Seniors came not just with curiosity, but with stories — many of them had already encountered suspicious calls or confusing messages and were eager to learn how to protect themselves and others.

Our presentation began by breaking down the most common types of scams seniors might face today, including:

• Tech support and computer repair scams

• IRS and Social Security fraud

• Phishing emails and text messages

• Fake charity requests and sweepstakes scams

• Impersonation scams, including those pretending to be grandchildren or loved ones
  
  

But we didn’t stop at definitions. We focused on practical prevention — how to spot red flags, what to do if something feels off, and how to report scams without shame or fear.

We also shared real-life examples and interactive scenarios, inviting participants to talk through what they might do if they received a suspicious message or call. This part of the session sparked some powerful conversations and showed just how important it is to give seniors a space to ask questions without judgment.

The Impact

Throughout the workshop, the seniors were fully engaged — taking notes, asking thoughtful questions, and even sharing personal experiences of times they had felt unsure or taken advantage of. One attendee told us, “I always thought I should know better, but no one’s ever actually explained this stuff clearly. This makes me feel like I finally understand what's going on.”

That’s what this is all about — empowering people through clarity, not complexity. We want every participant to walk away feeling more confident, more informed, and most of all, more in control.

Why This Matters

Scam prevention is about more than protecting money — it’s about protecting peace of mind, dignity, and independence. Too often, seniors feel embarrassed when they fall victim to fraud or don’t know who to turn to for help. By leading conversations like these, we aim to break the stigma and offer a supportive, proactive approach to digital safety.

This session is a reminder that education never stops. It’s a lifelong tool — and when we share it, we strengthen our communities in real, lasting ways.

What’s Next

Our visit to the Irvine senior center was just one stop in a growing journey. As we continue to expand our reach, we’re committed to developing programs that meet the needs of different age groups, backgrounds, and communities. Whether we’re teaching kids how to code or helping seniors recognize digital scams, the heart of our mission stays the same: use education to build connection, confidence, and lasting impact.

We’re so grateful to the staff and residents of the Irvine center for welcoming us with open arms, and we’re looking forward to continuing this work across Southern California and beyond.

Stay tuned — there’s so much more to come.