Written laws against fraud date to the ancient Sumerians, and the practice is forbidden in Leviticus, but that hasn’t slowed down the scammers. Indeed, as technology advances and AI seems to be everywhere, the pace and scale of financial crimes seem to be skyrocketing. But rather than sit idly by and rue the problem, let us collaborate on updating our knowledge base.

After a brief review of the history of fraud, we will identify and define current schemes targeting older adults (have you heard of “smishing”?), discuss some of the human factors that put us all at risk (can you say “mirror neurons”?), and then devise strategies for better prevention and timely response.

Participants should leave with increased confidence that they can protect themselves against multiple threats, as well as help family and friends stay safe in the digital age. This is intended as a conceptual overview rather than a safety check of your electronic devices, but we will examine good online hygiene and the use of password managers.

Class will combine lecture, slides, videos, and group discussion. Optional supplemental reading materials will be posted online.