St. Cloud State Teaches Seniors Online Scam Safety

Student researchers and faculty held a cybersecurity awareness workshop for older adults at Whitney Senior Center.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Senior Health

Photograph of a wooden table in a bright community room with a face-down smartphone, a ceramic mug, and an empty chair under soft window light. — St. Cloud State University student researchers and faculty taught older adults to spot online scams at a cybersecurity workshop held at Whitney Senior Center. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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St. Cloud State University hosted a cybersecurity awareness workshop for seniors at the Whitney Senior Center. The session covered common online scams, warning signs in suspicious messages, and protective steps.

Why it matters

Older adults are frequent targets of online scams, and the workshop aimed to help elders feel more confident using technology. Researchers are also developing tools to identify suspicious messages, links, and profiles.

The source reports the workshop's content and format but no quantitative figures on attendance or outcomes. Participant numbers and any measured change in scam susceptibility were not disclosed.

The players

St. Cloud State University

A public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota, known for its applied research programs and community outreach.

Whitney Senior Center

A senior center in St. Cloud that provides social, educational, and wellness programming for older adults.

The details

Participants practiced spotting potential scams through interactive 'Would You Click?' examples built around everyday situations. The session was led by St. Cloud State University student researchers and faculty at the Whitney Senior Center.

Workshop held recently; article published November 2, 2026.

Big Picture

The workshop responds to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center's documented reporting that adults 60 and older suffer disproportionately high losses from online fraud. It extends that concern into community-level, hands-on education for seniors.

Seniors who attend similar sessions can learn to recognize suspicious messages and links before responding. Researchers have indicated interest in offering additional workshops with senior centers and community organizations.

The takeaway

Pausing before clicking an unfamiliar link or responding to an urgent message is one of the simplest protections against online scams. Practicing with real-world examples can help build that habit.