Online scams are becoming more sophisticated, using technology and artificial intelligence to make fraudulent messages, impersonation, and other tactics harder to recognize. For people who are targeted, the impact can go far beyond financial loss—shame and embarrassment can make it harder to report a scam, ask for help, or warn others.

On September 30, 2026, NCOA-hosted events brought 127 people together in four cities to share their experiences with online scams, reduce the shame associated with scam victimization, and call for stronger accountability for the systems that allow online scams to spread. As part of the National Day of Action organized through the United to Stop Online Scams coalition, NCOA hosted events with local senior centers in Detroit, Charlotte, North Carolina, Denver, and Pittsburgh.

National Day at Action: At a Glance

“The impact of a scam can extend far beyond the immediate financial loss for an older adult," said Jessica Johnston, NCOA Senior Strategist for Economic Well-Being. “Trusted community organizations are uniquely positioned to help people navigate an increasingly complicated digital world. When people have a place to ask questions, learn from others, and get support without judgment, they are better equipped to protect themselves from fraud."

The National Day of Action brought that community-level work into a broader conversation about how to address the growing threat of online scams. The September 30 events encouraged participants to look beyond individual responsibility and consider how communities, policymakers, advocates, technology companies, and online platforms can work together to make digital spaces safer.

As a coalition partner in the United to Stop Online Scams effort, NCOA is helping elevate these conversations and bring its expertise in older adults’ economic security and community-based scam prevention to the broader effort. The coalition is working to ensure that the experiences of people targeted by fraud help inform how we understand the problem—and how we respond to it.

Four communities, one shared call to action

Across the four events, participants had the opportunity to talk openly about the realities of online scams and what it takes to prevent them. Rather than simply presenting information, the conversations encouraged participants to share their own experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another. Participants in Detroit, Charlotte, Denver, and Pittsburgh discussed how scammers use trust, urgency, impersonation, and increasingly sophisticated technology to make fraud difficult to recognize.

The need for these conversations is clear. In an NCOA survey of 750 older adults, 77% reported experiencing at least one scam attempt in the past year.¹ According to the FBI, adults age 60 and older lost more than $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025—a 59% increase from 2024.²

Bringing scam prevention conversations into trusted community spaces gave participants practical tools they could use to protect themselves and others. They learned how to recognize common warning signs, pause before responding to suspicious messages, independently verify information, and know where to turn for help. Just as importantly, the events helped challenge the idea that being scammed is something to be embarrassed about. Creating spaces where people can talk about fraud without judgment can make it easier to report scams, seek support, and warn others.

The conversations also reinforced a larger point: Individuals cannot carry the responsibility for preventing online scams alone. Communities can help people recognize and report fraud, but technology companies, online platforms, policymakers, and other stakeholders also have a role in making digital spaces safer and addressing the systems that allow scams to spread.

While each community brought its own experiences and perspectives to the conversation, the event in Detroit offered a particularly clear look at the challenges—and opportunities—communities face in responding to increasingly sophisticated scams.

A closer look: What we heard in Detroit

The Detroit conversation underscored that online scams can affect people across generations and demographics. Participants discussed the need for practical digital-safety education that helps older adults, caregivers, and younger users recognize suspicious activity across websites, apps, social media, email, and other online channels.

What We Heard in Detroit: Online Scam Warning Signs

Participants shared how professional-looking online messages, impersonation, and high-pressure tactics can make fraud difficult to identify. They noted that scammers may use familiar logos, convincing language, links, and urgent requests for personal information or payment to make online communications appear legitimate.

The discussion also raised concern about human-sounding AI voices and other technologies that can strengthen scams initiated through online platforms. An NCOA representative emphasized the importance of pausing before responding, avoiding links or contact information provided in a suspicious message, and independently verifying the person, company, or agency before sharing personal details or sending payment.

Across these stories of online scams, one message was consistent: Shame can keep people from reporting fraud or asking for help. A more effective response begins with nonjudgmental questions, relatable examples, and the reminder that being deceived is not a personal failure. Online scammers deliberately exploit trust, urgency, fear, and confusion, and communities can reduce harm by making it easier for people to speak up and connect with trusted support.

The work continues: How you can join the effort

The National Day of Action has passed, but the fight against online scams cannot be limited to a single day. The conversations in Detroit, Charlotte, Denver, and Pittsburgh showed the power of bringing people together to share experiences, learn from one another, and challenge the shame that can keep people from speaking up.

There's a role for everyone in creating safer online spaces. Learn how you can get involved in the United to Stop Online Scams coalition, access resources, share your experience, and find ways to help keep the momentum going.

Article hero image: Attendees at the Detroit National Day of Action event watch a PSA about preventing online scams.

Sources

1. National Council on Aging. Scroll, Click, Scam: How Social Media Platforms Enable Older Adult Scams. March 2026. Found on the internet at https://www.ncoa.org/article/older-adults-want-social-media-platforms-to-take-scam-ads-seriously/

2. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Internet Crime Report 2025. Found on the internet at https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf