Around $1 trillion is lost to scams every year, affecting people of all ages. However, individuals between 18 and 24 are among the most frequent targets. Scambusters® is a suite of programs designed to fight this growing problem through fun, game-based activities that teach participants how to recognize and avoid scams.
Scambusters® was created in 2017 with the original intent of teaching high school students to recognize and avoid scams before reaching their most vulnerable age. Scambusters®’ approval rating is evidenced by the fact that approximately 95% of high schools which host presentations issue requests for return engagements to reach additional students. The success of Scambusters® out-distanced its original goals. Its engaging game format has proven to be popular not just among teenagers but with audiences of all ages.
The Scambusters® Suite of Programs
To schedule a FREE in-person or virtual program for your class or group, contact:
Steve Fromme, BBB Educational Foundation Executive Director
sfromme@bbbec.org | 919.277.4227
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Scambusters®?
A: Scambusters® is a presentation designed to teach how to recognize and avoid scams.
Q: What sets Scambusters® apart from other presentations on the subject?
A: Scambusters® is not just another lecture on the topic. A large array of important information is presented in a fun, game format. It is interactive with the audience. Rather than passively listening, participants are encouraged to speak up during Scambusters®.
First, attendees are divided into teams. They are shown a series of communications including emails, texts, web pages, social media posts, etc. Teammates discuss among themselves whether they think the examples are scams or legitimate. After each team has voted, they are asked to explain what hints within the example led to their decision. Then the presenters explain any significant information which was not yet mentioned. Participants find this method of presenting the material tremendously engaging, plus they enjoy a sense of competition for their team to outscore the others.
Q: Who is the target audience for Scambusters®?
A: Scambusters® is most often presented in high schools to help equip students with valuable life lessons. Scammers aren’t picky and don’t discriminate by age, so no one is ever too young or too old to benefit from Scambusters®. We’ve presented the program everywhere from middle schools to senior living communities.
Q: How long are sessions of Scambusters®
A: The length of a presentation can be adjusted to fit the time which is available. Ideally, 60-75 minutes should be allotted for a session. But these are not hard limits.
Q: Are there limitations on the audience size for Scambusters®?
A: Most presentations are made to a single high school class or to two classes combined, anywhere from 20-70 students. Since audience participation is a key factor, 16-40 attendees is likely the sweet spot. But we often have larger sessions with great success.
Q: Once Scambusters® has been presented at a school do you ever return there?
A: Almost always! It is not unusual for us to be invited back immediately for more students to benefit from our presentations. Most schools host us multiple times a year, every year.
Q: Is the presentation of Scambusters® always the same?
A: Unfortunately, scams make up a huge industry. Like other big businesses, they adjust their “product” to keep up with the times. Although the basic tactics used by scammers and the bottom line of what they try to convince their victims to do remain mostly unchanged, the methods used to get from point A to point B constantly change. For instance, the use of AI in creating scams has become commonplace. Since the scams are constantly changing, Scambusters® must do the same.
Q: How much do Scambusters® presentations cost?
A: Scambusters® presentations are free of charge.