Scam Prevention Workshops

San Ramon, CA – With online scams becoming more common, Impactt Kids recently took action to help senior citizens stay safe. The nonprofit hosted three fraud and cyber scam prevention workshops—one at The Watermark, a retirement community in San Ramon, and two at the Emerald Valley Senior Center in Dublin. The goal was to teach seniors how to spot and avoid scams, helping them feel more confident using technology.

Helping Seniors Understand Online Scams

As more daily activities move online, seniors are often targeted by scammers through phone calls, emails, and fake websites. Many don’t know how to tell if something is a scam, making them more vulnerable to fraud. To help with this, Impactt Kids designed these workshops to show seniors how to recognize scams, protect their personal information, and safely use the internet.

Easy-to-Follow Lessons with Real-Life Examples

Each session was designed to be simple, clear, and interactive. Volunteers from Impactt Kids explained different types of scams and gave real-life examples of how scammers try to trick people. Topics included:

• Phishing emails and text messages – How to spot fake links and suspicious messages.

• Phone scams – Recognizing scam calls from people pretending to be from the IRS, Medicare, or Social Security.

• Fake tech support scams – Learning why you should never trust random calls saying your computer has a virus.

• Online shopping and banking safety – How to safely make purchases and manage finances online.

Seniors were also taught how to create strong passwords, use two-factor authentication, and check if websites are secure before entering any personal information.

Seniors Appreciate the Practical Tips

The workshops were a big success, with many seniors saying they felt more confident after attending. One participant at The Watermark shared, "I always get strange emails and phone calls, and now I finally know what to do to avoid getting scammed."

At the Emerald Valley Senior Center, seniors asked questions and shared their own experiences with scams. Volunteers patiently helped them understand what to do if they receive a suspicious message or phone call.

Impactt Kids Continues to Support the Community

Impactt Kids, a nonprofit focused on education and community support, is dedicated to helping people of all ages learn important skills. These workshops are just one way the organization is working to keep seniors safe in the digital world.

As scams continue to evolve, Impactt Kids plans to offer more digital safety workshops, making sure seniors and others in the community have the knowledge they need to stay protected.