Cyber Threats, Elder Abuse, and Fraud, “Oh My!”

“Cyber Threats, Elder Abuse, and Fraud, “Oh My!”

Protecting Your Money, Your Digital Life, and Your Intentions

Scams and financial exploitation are ubiquitous and even the most careful people can be caught off guard. Estimates are that in 2024, 47 billion dollars were lost to fraud through scams, hacking, and abuse by trusted individuals. For families who have worked hard to build and protect their assets, staying informed is now an essential part of good estate planning.

Join Dave Smith for a practical, two-hour online program designed especially for clients of our estate-planning practice. This session will explain how today’s scammers, hackers, and financial abusers operate—and, more importantly, what you can do to protect yourself, your spouse, and your family.

Dave will walk through the most common modern scams (including imposter scams, QR code scams, SIM-swap attacks, and AI-generated impersonations), show how hackers take over accounts and financial lives, and address the often-overlooked risk of financial exploitation by family members, friends, or caregivers. Throughout the program, the focus will be on recognizing patterns rather than memorizing technical details.

Participants will leave with clear, concrete steps they can take immediately, including practical habits to reduce risk, warning signs to watch for, and strategies to stay in control of financial and legal decisions. There is no shame in being deceived—these crimes succeed because the criminals are highly skilled. Knowledge, awareness, and a calm, prepared mindset are the strongest defenses.

This session is educational, practical, and empowering—focused on protecting independence, dignity, and the intentions behind your estate plan.

Dave Smith of Norwich, Vermont is a retired school psychologist with a strong personal interest in the prevention of scamming and hacking. He has been teaching courses on this topic through Osher at Dartmouth since January of 2025 and his lectures at multiple venues in the Upper Valley have been well-received. Dave will share his slides, as well as a strategy checklist and a resource list. To quote Dave: “The scammers have us outnumbered, and we need to stick together. We need to pay attention to ‘the man behind the curtain.’” Please join us for this timely discussion.