How to invest safely in the age of AI scammers

‘The world ended for me’: 86-year-old Ontario woman goes public after losing $900K to Prime Minister Mark Carney AI deepfake scam.

Nick Borek Jul 3, 2026

Judy Skene is speaking out after losing over $900,000 to a cryptocurrency investment platform that ended up being fake. But it wasn’t the only thing fake about the scam.

Skene, an 86-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, was drawn into the scam by a video of Prime Minister Mark Carney urging Canadians to invest — a video that turned out to be an AI-generated deepfake video. In other words, it was bogus. Still, the video was convincing enough for the retiree, who made an initial investment of $350, believing it was backed by the Bank of Canada.

“I saw an ad on Facebook of Mark Carney telling me if I invested $350 Canadian, it would be backed by the Bank of Canada,” she said to CTV.

She was soon contacted directly by the scammers, who convinced her over the course of several months to invest more, promising returns of $40,000 per month. Eventually, she cashed in her Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) for $650,000, mortgaged her condo for $350,000 and got a $35,000 cash advance on her credit card to invest in the bogus scheme.

That’s when the scammers vanished, leaving her with only a few hundred dollars.

“I just really thought it was going to work out and when all the funds were gone, it was like the world ended for me,” Skene told SooToday.

While her story is tragic, it’s not unique. More broadly, it raises questions about where Canadians, especially older ones, should place their trust to make investment decisions in the age of AI scammers.

AI is ‘supercharging’ scams

Financial abuse, both by family and by scammers, is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada. It’s also a growing problem.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), Canadians reported losing a record $704 million to fraudsters in 2025, around half of which ($351 million) was lost through investment fraud. The latest available data, meanwhile, suggests 40% of reported losses come from individuals aged 55 years and older.

Those total losses represent a nearly 300% increase since 2020, much of which is being targeted at older Canadians.

And the rise of AI is “supercharging” these scams, according to Cyber-Seniors, a non-profit organization providing technology training to older adults. AI lets scammers targeting older age groups pull off far more sophisticated schemes, producing deepfakes, emails and websites that are “startlingly authentic.”

“AI is playing a huge role in fraud,” Jeff Horncastle, a spokesperson for the CAFC, told Cyber-Seniors. “I hate to use the word ‘scary,’ but it’s so difficult now to know what’s real and what isn’t.”

Horncastle added that investment schemes are surging in Canada, representing half of all funds lost last year. And like the one targeting Skene, they often start with an AI-generated image or video that features a well-known celebrity or politician endorsing an investment opportunity that’s “too good to be true.”

“Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming increasingly common across Canada,” Horncastle wrote in an email to SooToday.

Slow down — and stick to trusted platforms

But Skene’s story doesn’t have to end as a cautionary tale. It can also bring awareness to the tactics of scammers and ways to avoid falling into their traps.

One common tactic is to pressure victims to act quickly, which reduces the time they have to do research. This makes it easier to trick them with promises of higher-than-normal returns, urgent messages from financial institutions or government agencies, and fake trading apps or websites, especially ones involving cryptocurrency.

In Skene’s case, a bogus investment account showed that her investment had almost doubled, when in reality, the money was already long gone.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to take your time to check the validity of the investment using resources like the National Registration Search Tool, run by the Canadian Securities Administrators, and to stick to trusted banking and trading platforms. That way, you can minimize the chance of downloading malicious apps or compromising your personal information, while also taking advantage of the extensive features offered by the bigger platforms.

For example, Canadian investors can look to a tried-and-true online platform like CIBC Investor’s Edge, which gives them the security — and features — of one of Canada’s biggest banks without having to pay exorbitant commissions or fees.

In fact, with their comprehensive online trading platform, it actually pays to trade more. Active traders making over 150 trades a quarter can get a discounted commission rate of $4.95 per trade. And CIBC doesn’t charge any account or maintenance fees if the combined market balance of all accounts is greater than $10,000. Plus, you can receive real-time news and stock alerts, helping you keep track of market shifts.

Want to know more? Here’s a comprehensive review of the CIBC Investor’s Edge platform and its features.

Get some help

Another lesson to be learned from Skene’s story is the value of reaching out for advice before making any big financial moves — something that scammers will try to deter.

According her longtime friend, Pat Probert, that’s exactly what they tried to do, instructing Skene not to tell her friends because “‘you’re making so much money that your friends will be mad at you.’” It was only after she realized she was being scammed that she turned to Probert, who jumped into action by contacting two financial institutions she dealt with and the local police, who are still investigating.

“I was shocked. It’s beyond sickening,” he said.

If anything, these events underscore the importance of seeking out sound financial advice, preferably from professional advisors. But they can also be costly — and aren’t always available when you need them.

For those who want investment opportunities at a moment’s notice, AI-powered stock-picking services are another option, but many Canadians are still wary of using them for financial advice.

However, if you’re looking for the best of both worlds — the accessibility and immediacy of an AI-powered platform mixed with the human touch — you may want to consider stock-picking services like Moby, which offers investors data-driven insights from AI alongside expert analysis from financial professionals.

With Moby’s digital platforms, investors not only receive real-time stock picks and access to in-depth research, they also get a variety of features to educate users and help them make informed investment decisions. What’s more, subscribers can get hand-picked investment opportunities delivered straight to their inbox three times a week.

Bottom line

Thanks in part to new AI tools at their disposal, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the tactics they use to defraud their victims. This means that Canadians, particularly who are older, will want to be more careful about where they place their trust when making investments.

As for Judy Skene, her story isn’t over yet. Her friend, Pat Probert, has set up a GoFundMe page, which has already raised nearly $12,000 of the $20,000 goal as of July 1. Meanwhile, Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors) for Canada, was also notified about her story, reaching out to speak to Skene directly.

But Skene says that she’s going public with her story because she wants to keep others from becoming victims to these schemes.

“Just be alert and be careful with what you see,” she told CTV.

What your GenX & Millennial family want you to know about using AI

Dawn Allcot

Tue, June 16, 2026 at 10:45 AM EDT

Artificial intelligence has bucked generational trends, according to research from Numerator. Analyzing more than 5,000 consumers’ views about AI, the survey showed that AI adoption, at least when it comes to online shopping, is roughly equal across generations. By contrast, younger generations had traditionally been the earliest tech adopters. Just think of GenX playing Oregon Trail and Lemonade Stand on our Commodore PCs or downloading AOL off a CD-Rom to access the Internet via a dial-up modem.

Many of us learned to program our VCR at age 12 because our parents couldn’t get the clock to stop blinking. But that stereotype of older generations not understanding tech has been turned on its head with AI use. When it comes to generative AI, we’re all new to it and learning it together. The Numerator study showed, “a 25-year-old and 65-year-old are equally likely to sit anywhere on the spectrum [of AI adoption.]”

Even so, older folks who have just grown accustomed to using their smartphone may face more challenges getting up to speed.

 “It’s not just about going to a site, typing something into a box, and pressing enter. It’s about how we interact with these tools,” Macaulee Cassaday, program director for the non-profit organization Cyber-Seniors, said in a blog post.

Cassaday noted that seniors are curious about technology like ChatGPT but may not know where to begin.  This multigenerational adoption of AI means we can all learn from each other. Here are a few things to know to get the most out of AI technology.

Think about what daily tasks AI can take off your plate

We all have household or work-related administrative tasks that can be simplified.

“It handles the boring work,” said Duncan Barrigan, founder and CEO of Lunos AI. Lunos AI  automates invoicing and collections for business owners, executives, and accounts receivable departments. But the concept of freeing up time you previously spent on tedious tasks can apply to anyone, at work or at home.

“Think about where the stakes are lowest [and] where the work is super annoying,” Barrigan said. That’s a good place to start using AI to automate various aspects of your life.

For instance, you can tell ChatGPT or Claude AI all the food in your refrigerator and pantry and ask it to help plan meals for the week. It can troubleshoot quick, at-home appliance repair. You can use it to create checklists for travel, housework, or daily routines.

You can also use it for research, getting answers in a conversational, non-overwhelming way.  

“It’s not just about going to a site, typing something into a box, and pressing enter. It’s about how we interact with these (AI) tools.”

Don’t trust everything it says

Be aware that some AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Claude, are prone to “hallucinations” or creating false information when they can’t find an answer. Hallucination rates have dropped dramatically in the past year. In one March 2025 study by Columbia Journalism Review, reported by VisualCapitalist.com, hallucination rates for the major AI platforms ranged from 37% for Perplexity up to 94% by Grok. ChatGPT had a 67% hallucination rate when prompted to cite news sources from an excerpt entered in the platform.

The website AIMultiple.com did a separate study in April 2026, discovering that Grok’s hallucination rate was roughly 15%, while ChatGPT’s was 22%.

Bottom line: Fact check information against both common sense and other sources, especially when accuracy matters.

For better results, learn how to construct an effective prompt

The age-old computer programming adage, “Garbage In, Garbage Out” still applies to AI. Crafting an effective prompt increases the odds you’ll receive a useful response.

“You need to tell it what you want and explicitly what to avoid,” Barrigan explained. “The biggest mistake people make is one-line prompts.”

For instance, you could ask ChatGPT or another AI platform to craft an email on a specific topic. But what you get may not be usable or sound like you.

“If you add who the [recipient] is, though, what the relationship is like, the tone you’d want to use and the kind of detail you need, the quality will jump significantly with that 30 extra seconds of input,” Barrigan said.

Use the right AI tool for each job

For most users, ChatGPT or Claude works well enough for things like travel planning, daily scheduling or brainstorming ideas. Some people say they prefer Claude for writing and that Gemini excels in image creation, but most of the major generative AI chat platforms (Claude, Grok, ChatGPT, and Gemini) can do these things to some extent. For advanced video creation, you’ll want to consider apps like Sora or Canva.

“General chat is good when you just need a quick answer once for something, and you use specialized AI when you need an answer every day,” Barrigan said. “For example, ChatGPT, Claude and the others are great for one-off creative answers.”

These programs don’t necessarily remember details from one conversation to another, and they aren’t always good at highly specialized, specific tasks. If you need something to remember details and maintain continuity – especially if it’s business or work-related — look into specialized apps.

Use common sense and caution – just as you would with any online app

Most people understand how to recognize and avoid common scams, including texts or phone calls phishing for personal data high-pressure social media messages impersonating a loved one, and tech support scams that come in the form of fake pop-up ads. But don’t let your guard down just because an AI chatbot feels like talking to a friend.

It’s important to remember not to share personal information, including your social security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers, with AI chatbots. Follow the same rules you would follow for social media and don’t share personal information.

“Sensitive customer data, legal commitments, and anything with personal info … are areas where people need to be more cautious,” Barrigan said.

Special-use AI-powered apps, like your favorite banking apps or enterprise-level platforms for work, should follow data privacy policies and security regulations to protect your data.

Remember that AI isn’t human, even though it sounds like it

Don’t use AI to make irreversible financial or personal decisions. AI isn’t a therapist, a financial planner, or even a fellow human being with real-life experience to draw on.

A member of the American Psychological Association (APA) recently warned against using AI chatbots for therapy. “Not only were these tools not designed to address mental health or emotional support, but they’re actually being coded in a way to keep you on the platform for as long as possible because that’s the business model,” C. Vaile Wright, licensed psychologist and senior director of the APA’s Office of Health Care Innovation, said in an interview with Scientific American.

It’s okay to brainstorm with ChatGPT, Claude and the others, the same way you might use Google for research. But just as you shouldn’t turn to “Dr. Google” for a serious health condition, be prepared to seek guidance from professionals in areas related to money management, mental health, and other big topics.

Embracing technology for healthier aging

By Matt Del Vecchio, The Suburban

Jun 3, 2026

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in assisting seniors and their families live healthier, safer, and happier lives. Advancements are happening at a rapid pace including features that make it easier to embrace technology. Here are a few that I would like to share.

Health monitoring

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers can monitor heart rate, sleep patterns, blood pressure, and physical activity levels. Medical alert devices such as Lifeline and Telus can even detect falls and automatically alert family members or emergency services. Apple Watches are also gaining in popularity with fall detection technology, heart rate sensors, and blood oxygen monitoring.

Smart homes

The addition of smart home features can provide added peace of mind for those living in their homes as well as for loved ones living at a distance. The installation of cameras enables remote monitoring and rapid emergency response, allowing older adults to age in place safely. Sensor technology is less invasive yet still effective. Sensors will detect patterns in daily routines such as movement, sleep, bathing, and meal preparation. Doorway sensors trigger an alert when a person walks through a doorway. Other sensors can be installed on appliances like a refrigerator or stove. Light sensors installed in a bedroom or bathroom can help prevent slips and falls. Bed sensors can notify a caregiver if someone is getting out of bed. And medication alerts will send reminders to take medication.

Combatting loneliness and isolation

Video calling platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, and WhatsApp allow older adults to stay connected with family and friends, even if they live far away. Smart displays are also becoming popular which allow users to chat with the simple press of a button. These are countertop touch screen devices that combine a voice assistant. Google Home or Amazon Alexa are leading the way. For example, you can ask Alexa to create wake-up, bedtime and mealtime alarms; set reminders about tasks, appointments, to-do list items, events, and medication.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine has also transformed access to healthcare for seniors. Virtual doctor appointments make it easier for older adults to consult healthcare professionals without leaving home, especially during winter months or when mobility is limited.

Technical support for seniors

One of the biggest challenges for seniors is adapting to technology. There are some wonderful organizations that try to bridge the gap between seniors’ lack of technological know how and having someone that can teach the ins and outs in a calm, patient, empathetic and cost-effective manner. Organizations such as Connected Canadians, Cyber Seniors, and Students for Seniors (Technology-Tutors) can be helpful. Local organizations such as Cummings Centre, Literacy Unlimited, Atwater Library, Contactivity Centre, and various municipalities can all assist in providing the knowledge and confidence in an ever-increasing technological world.

Online resources help seniors stay safe from scams in Chemung County

by Ebony Lewis

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — The Chemung County Department of Aging is working to ensure that all residents, especially older adults, have the resources to use technology safely and avoid scams.

Officials say many people assume seniors aren’t interested in learning about technology, but that is not the case.St. Joseph’s residents struggle with broken elevators

“It’s really important for our older adults to know and to learn about technology,” said Beth Stranges, the Director of the Chemung County Department of Aging. “We want to make sure that we share information with our community members so that people can access different sites,” she said.

Stranges says there are three trusted resources that people around the area can use to learn how to use the internet, recognize scams, and protect their personal information.Erie Lounge faces neighbor backlash for late-night noise

“One of the websites I use currently, when I use resources or put information in our newsletters right now, is the New York State Office for the Aging, which has Silver Shield, and it’s a platform that helps prevent scammers from scamming older adults,” said Stranges.

In addition to safety, the resources also offer ways to keep people connected through online classes and group activities.

List of resources for online Safety:

• New York State Office for the Aging · GetSetUp 
• Cyber-Seniors – Cyber-Seniors Inc. 
• Stay Safe From Scams with Silvershield

Free Brain Games for Seniors Fuel Retirement Scams

Popular puzzle apps harvest personal data to target vulnerable older adults

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Seemingly innocent free brain game apps for seniors are secretly collecting users’ personal data, including contacts, photos, and location information, which is then used to fuel sophisticated retirement scams worth billions annually. These apps, often highly rated on official app stores, exploit seniors’ trust and desire for mental stimulation to gain access to a treasure trove of sensitive information that can be used to steal their savings.

Why it matters

Compromised personal data can have devastating consequences for older adults, leading to scams that drain their retirement savings. This issue highlights the need for greater transparency and security measures around free apps targeting vulnerable populations.

The details

Many free puzzle and brain game apps, such as ‘Puzzles for Seniors’ and ‘Wood Block Puzzle: Brain Games,’ demand access to users’ contacts, photos, and location data under the guise of ‘personalized recommendations’ and ‘progress syncing.’ This data is then shared with third parties and used to fuel sophisticated fraud operations, including AI-generated deepfake scams and targeted phishing campaigns. The FBI reports billions stolen from seniors through these increasingly sophisticated scams.

• In March 2026, a report by technology journalist Annemarije de Boer exposed the data harvesting practices of several popular free brain game apps targeting seniors.
• The FBI has been warning about the growing threat of retirement scams fueled by compromised personal data for several years.

The players

Annemarije de Boer

A Los Angeles-based director and visual storyteller specializing in technology reviews and digital innovation journalism, who drew from her background in psychology and tech experience to investigate the data harvesting practices of free brain game apps.

Cyber-Seniors

An organization that teaches digital literacy to older adults, which has warned about the risks of ‘scareware infections’ from seemingly innocent app downloads.

AARP

The American Association of Retired Persons, which offers a vetted ‘Staying Sharp’ program with puzzle games that have transparent privacy practices.

What they’re saying

“After downloading a free puzzle game, so many things infected on their devices. That’s why it’s called scareware.”

— Cyber-Seniors instructor (Cyber-Seniors)

“Your innocent jigsaw puzzle habit might be funding the next wave of retirement scams.”

— Annemarije de Boer, Technology journalist (gadgetreview.com)

What’s next

AARP and other organizations are working to educate seniors on the importance of carefully reviewing app permissions and choosing secure, vetted alternatives to free brain games that may compromise their personal data.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the need for greater transparency and security measures around free apps targeting vulnerable populations, as compromised personal data can have devastating consequences for older adults and lead to scams that drain their retirement savings.

California Public Utilities Commission awards $3.29 million to expand broadband access, enhance digital literacy

Feb 26, 2026

Will Anderson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Thursday approved $3.29 million in grants to enhance digital literacy and increase broadband access across California.

This funding, aimed at underserved communities, is part of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Adoption Account.

The grants will support 21 projects, including 18 digital literacy initiatives and three broadband access projects. These efforts will reach an estimated 16,145 Californians, providing digital literacy training to 5,345 participants and extending broadband access to 10,800 additional community members.

The projects will serve counties including Alameda, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Ventura, and Yolo.

The following projects had funding approved by the CPUC:

• American GI Forum Education Foundation of Santa Maria – $180,325 to provide digital literacy and data skills training for veterans in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
  
• Cyber-Seniors – $751,780 for five Connected Communities digital literacy projects serving older adults in Alameda County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Francisco, and San Jose.
  
• Daly City Peninsula Partnership Collaborative – $231,050 to provide digital literacy training in Northern San Mateo County, including services tailored to seniors, immigrants, and low-income residents.
  
• Genesis Community Foundation – $1,196,640 for eight Golden Bridge Program digital literacy projects serving seniors, low-income residents, justice-involved youth, and high school students in the Sacramento region.
  
• HOPE Center of Orange County – $140,532 to deliver digital literacy training and support to individuals experiencing homelessness in North Orange County.
  
• International Rescue Committee – San Jose Office – $154,481 to provide digital literacy training to refugees and immigrants in Santa Clara County through its Digital Inclusion for School and Careers project.
  
• International Rescue Committee – San Diego Office – $169,890 to deliver digital literacy and workforce-oriented digital skills training for refugees and immigrants in San Diego County.
  
• Monterey Bay Economic Partnership – $463,644 for three Connected Communities Hubs projects establishing free public broadband access sites in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties.

Commissioner Darcie L. Houck emphasized the importance of these initiatives.

“California has made significant investments in deploying broadband infrastructure, but delivering on the statewide goal of Broadband for All also requires lowering the barriers many Californians face in accessing internet services or using the internet effectively,” Houck said.

“These awards will support organizations across 14 counties in conducting digital literacy initiatives serving critical, vulnerable populations and enabling public access to broadband in communities with significant need,” continued Houck.

The CPUC says that the July 2025 grant cycle included 92 additional projects that passed ministerial review and will receive up to $10,128,097.

These projects, led by various organizations and local governments, will offer digital literacy training to 17,450 participants and broadband access to 13,428 more, potentially resulting in 4,364 new broadband subscriptions.

Overall, the July 2025 grant cycle represents a total investment of up to $13.4 million from the Adoption Account. This funding will provide digital literacy training for 22,795 Californians and broadband access for 24,228, with more than 5,100 new broadband subscriptions anticipated.

The CASF Broadband Adoption Account aims to improve broadband access and promote digital inclusion, especially in low-income communities and areas facing socioeconomic challenges. For Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the CPUC allocated $30 million to continue these efforts.

Grant recipients are required to begin their projects within six months and complete them within 24 months, submitting progress and completion reports to ensure accountability.

For additional information regarding the CPUC’s Broadband Implementation for California, click here.

How Canadian seniors can stay ahead of cyber scams

Nancy Lanthier, Special to The Globe and Mail

January 20, 2026

Photo by Thomas Bollmann

Bruna Nota is still amazed at how legitimate the scam call that nearly cost her $3,000 seemed.

“I believe I’m a pretty savvy person,” says Ms. Nota, a retired organizational consultant who used to run her own corporation. “The caller was extremely convincing: very polite, very professional.”

The 87-year-old, who lives in a retirement community in Toronto, recalls how she became a victim of the “bank investigation” scam a few years ago.

When she picked up the first call that morning Ms. Nota thought she was speaking with an official investigator, who told her her bank account had been compromised, most likely by a teller. He instructed her to withdraw money, assuring her the funds would be returned later that day.

“I went to the bank and withdrew $3,000,” Ms. Nota says. She was told not to discuss the investigation – a demand she now recognizes as a red flag.

The fraud began to unravel as the investigator’s instructions became increasingly implausible. She was told to use the money to buy computer-game gift cards, but when she attempted to do so at her local pharmacy, a cashier who recognized the scheme intervened and prevented her from handing over the money. “I still thank her whenever I go in there!” says Ms. Nota.

Even now, Ms. Nota says she still feels embarrassed that she initially fell for the fraud. She is sharing her experience, she says, to help protect others.

“There is a multitude of ways someone can be scammed – ways you could never imagine,” she says.

Seniors targeted the most

In Canada, phone and email accounts are being flooded with scam attempts. Research by Equifax Canada shows a major scam wave last summer, when two popular schemes – the “fake-job” and the “CRA refund” scams – affected one in three Canadians over a three-month period.

Older Canadians are the most targeted, according to the federal government’s recently updated document What every older Canadian should know about: Fraud and scams.

In 2024, seniors lost almost 40 per cent of the total amount of money taken by scams. That year, 108,878 frauds were reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), accounting for more than $644-million in losses – a nearly 300-per-cent increase since 2020.

Yet those figures account for only a fraction of actual frauds. The CAFC estimates just 5 per cent of frauds are reported, suggesting total losses could reach into the billions.

AI is supercharging scams

Unlike the poorly executed tactics of traditional scams, fraud targeting seniors today is far more sophisticated and widespread due to artificial intelligence, says Jeff Horncastle, a fraud expert and spokesperson for the CAFC.

AI allows scammers to create websites, emails, deepfake videos and voice clones that are startlingly authentic. It also enables large-scale campaigns or highly targeted attacks using personal data gathered from social media or other platforms.

“AI is playing a huge role in fraud,” says Mr. Horncastle. “I hate to use the word ‘scary,’ but it’s so difficult now to know what’s real and what isn’t.”

AI-assisted impersonation is partly to blame. A common example, the “grandparent” scam, involves scammers using AI to mimic a grandchild’s voice and mannerisms, asking for money to cover bail after an arrest or to cover legal fees.

Reports of “investment” scams targeting seniors have also surged, accounting for half of all funds lost to scams last year, says Mr. Horncastle.

In one notable case, an AI-generated video appeared to show Prime Minister Mark Carney endorsing cryptocurrency investments allegedly backed by the federal government. According to a CBC report, a retired teacher from Prince Albert, Sask., who saw the video lost $2,800. Initially, however, the scammers returned $800. By allowing early gains, perpetrators establish credibility and build trust, says Mr. Horncastle.

The tactic is also common in romance scams, the second-most lucrative fraud targeting seniors, responsible for $54-million in losses last year.

Often aided by AI face-swapping technology, the scammer builds an emotional relationship – sometimes over months – before presenting an urgent financial crisis, says Mr. Horncastle.

Scammers frequently pressure victims to act quickly, eliminating time for critical analysis, he notes. The “bank investigator” who nearly scammed Ms. Nota used the same tactic, insisting the transaction be completed that very morning.

Today, bank investigation scams are even harder to detect because criminals use AI-enhanced caller ID spoofing to make incoming calls appear to come from legitimate bank numbers.

Urgency and emotional manipulation are among the most common warning signs, particularly when messages appear to come from financial institutions, government agencies or social-media platforms.

AI-powered defense

Artificial intelligence is also being deployed to help protect seniors. Many tools are low-cost or free, says Macaulee Cassaday, co-founder and program director at Cyber-Seniors, a Toronto-based organization that provides older adults with free cybersecurity education across North America.

“I don’t pay for cybersecurity tools,” she says. “I only use free versions. I want to know which ones others can use to keep themselves safe.”

Seniors can supplement telecom-provider scam filters with free AI-powered call-screening apps, such as Hiya, Robokiller and Truecaller. Tools like GPTZero and Bitdefender Scamio analyze emails, texts and websites for signs of AI-generated phishing content.

The online scanner Deepware uses machine learning to identify deepfake videos. Users paste in video links (from YouTube or Facebook, for example) and within seconds the system flags AI-generated media, with 93 per cent accuracy, according to Forbes, citing Slovakian researchers.

To counter AI-generated malicious advertising, or “malvertising,” seniors can use “safe-by-design” browsers, such as Norton Neo.

The power of human judgment

Still, technology alone is not enough, Ms. Cassaday says. If a message is unexpected or urgent, she advises approaching it with skepticism and taking a moment to consider what it wants you to do.

Red flags include requests for personal information and prompts that redirect users outside the original message via links or attachments.

On a hopeful note, Ms. Cassaday says the “enormous scale” of scams has increased awareness among seniors, who are quicker to question what’s real and what’s fake.

Since her encounter with the “bank investigators,” Ms. Nota says she has become far more alert – even calling herself as an anti-scam “poster child.”

“Yesterday and today, I received two scam messages,” she says. One came from an email address that didn’t match the company name and the other simply “didn’t smell right,” she adds. She deleted both.

Ms. Nota encourages seniors to talk openly about their encounters with fraud.

“There is a lot of shame around talking about being duped,” she says, “but talking about it allows people to feel validated and the culpability is transferred to where it belongs – the scammer.”

What’s New in Digital Equity: State Toolkit Connects Seniors

Oct 23, 2025 Julia Edinger

Plus, New Mexico and Indiana are both expanding access to broadband, a federal government shift to paperless checks may widen digital inequities, and more.

This week in “What’s New in Digital Equity” — our weekly look at government digital equity and broadband news — we have a number of interesting items, which you can jump to with the links below:

• State Toolkit Connects Seniors
• New Mexico to Expand Infrastructure
• Indiana Connects Homes to Internet
• Urgency of Access With Paperless Federal Checks
• Report Reveals Computer Ownership Gaps

STATE TOOLKIT CONNECTS SENIORS

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE) released a new toolkit designed to support stakeholders across the state with a vested interest in improving digital skills among older adults — a term typically referring to those of ages 65 and older, per the National Institute on Aging.

The Enhancing Digital Literacy for Older Adults (EDLOA) Playbookaims to support Councils on Aging, Aging Services Access Points, community-based organizations and other partners.

The playbook aims to offer tools and examples via community case studies, strategies for designing and staffing community partnerships and programs, insights on building confidence in adult learners, and links to other resources in this space at both the state and national level.

It compiles insights learned through the EDLOA grant program, which was administered by AGE. During the two-year program, 24 grantees offered digital literacy support to thousands of older adults. This included technical assistance, device lending, and multilingual classes. The grantees were awarded a total of $1.8 million. The program was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative offered technical assistance.

The playbook stresses that there is an important need to teach new adult learners about the digital world in meaningful ways, and that the population faces unique barriers to accessing the Internet. Community-specific feedback can help teach stakeholders about these needs.

Partnerships can play an essential role in bridging these access and literacy gaps in older adults, and there are many organizations that can help, with several highlighted in this playbook. That list includes the Alliance for Digital Equity, AARP’s Older Adults Technology Services through Senior Planet, Cyber Seniors, Essex County Community Foundation, Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Tech Goes Home. Local partners like public libraries, housing departments, local businesses and educational institutions can also help.

The playbook’s key recommendations are to understand the local digital equity landscape, leverage partnerships and collaborations, document work, and continue iterating approaches.

NEW MEXICO TO EXPAND INFRASTRUCTURE

New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion has awarded $200,000 in grants through the state’s Grant Writing, Engineering, and Planning Program (GWEP).

Through GWEP, the state is investing in helping tribes, local governments and cooperatives provide broadband to unserved locations. Currently, $1.7 million is still available in grants through this program.

The two awards announced today will support the Pueblo of Pojoaque and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Inc., going toward the planning, engineering and grant writing required to build broadband infrastructure. The first recipient will use its grant to strengthen connectivity and support future infrastructure investment; the second will use its award to strengthen federal grant proposals. Each recipient will receive $100,000 in grant funding.

INDIANA CONNECTS HOMES TO INTERNET

In other state news, the Indiana Broadband Office has connected 156 addresses across 30 counties to broadband through the Indiana Connectivity Program’s 15th round. Through this effort, the state contributed $654,676, which was paired with more than $1 million from Internet service providers.

With this money, the program has allocated more than $14 million in funding to service more than 3,000 locations. Broadband providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date set through this program.

Homeowners or business owners at unserved or underserved locations can express their interest in participating in this program through the state’s Next Level Connections portal.

URGENCY OF ACCESS WITH PAPERLESS FEDERAL CHECKS

The federal government stopped issuing paper checks for benefits like Social Security as of Sept. 30. Now, payments are deposited directly into bank accounts or onto prepaid debit cards. Because about 15 percent of U.S. households are underbanked and 5 percent unbanked entirely, this change may pose barriers. The reasons individuals may not have or use a bank account can be varied.

The transition to paperless checks aims to simplify processes, but it could also create a new barrier to accessing essential benefits for those who lack bank accounts, Internet service or digital skills.

Nonprofit organizations play a key role in helping people access the Internet, with governments relying more heavily on their support in the wake of the Digital Equity Act’s illegal termination. Although the Digital Equity Act’s termination is being challenged with a lawsuit, the funding is currently unavailable and its programs’ future remains uncertain.

REPORT REVEALS COMPUTER OWNERSHIP GAPS

More than 33 million people in the U.S. either lack a computing device or rely exclusively on a smartphone to use the Internet, according to a report from the nonprofit organization Digitunity. The report explores computer ownership data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.

Other findings in the report highlight the disparities in computer access. For example, 1 in 7 U.S. households lacks access to a large-screen computer. Older adults are five times more likely to lack a computer than working-age adults, and 1 in 10 older adults relies on a smartphone.

There are even geographic disparities highlighted in the report. For example, a household in Mississippi is three times more likely not to have a large-screen computer than one in Utah.

The report offers recommendations to support expanded access to computer ownership for impacted populations.