As Scam Losses Hit Record Highs, Leon County Offers Free Digital Safety Workshop
WHO: | Leon County Government |
WHAT: | SafeSense: Online Safety & Digital Skills Workshop |
WHEN: | Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. |
WHERE: | LeRoy Collins Leon County Main Library, 200 West Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301 |
Today is National Slam the Scam Day, a federal initiative led by the Social Security Administration to raise awareness about government imposter scams during National Consumer Protection Week. The timing could not be more relevant. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25 percent increase from the prior year. Older adults were hit especially hard, with reported losses among adults 60 and older reaching $2.4 billion, a fourfold increase since 2020.
Leon County’s new SafeSense workshop is designed to help residents fight back. The free program is built with older adults in mind, but open to anyone who wants to feel more confident and secure online. Whether you’ve received a suspicious text, been unsure about an email, or simply want to learn how to better protect yourself and your family, SafeSense meets you where you are, at your own pace, in a welcoming, no-pressure setting. Register today at LeonCountyFL.gov/SafeSense or call the Leon County Public Library at 850-606-2665.
Participants will learn how to recognize common scams, including the government imposter schemes highlighted by Slam the Scam Day. The workshop also covers how to secure phones and email accounts, get more out of everyday online tools like banking and video calls, know who to contact if something goes wrong, and understand what artificial intelligence can and can’t do. No experience is necessary, just curiosity. Friendly, patient instructors will guide participants through each topic step by step.
The workshop is free and open to all ages, though it is especially designed for older adults who may feel targeted by increasingly sophisticated online scams or want to build confidence with digital tools. Family members and caregivers are also encouraged to attend. SafeSense offers practical, hands-on guidance that participants can put to use right away to protect themselves and their loved ones.
The program has been developed with coordination and input from the following community partners: Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, Capital City Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of North Florida, Cybersecurity Community Outreach Organization at FSU (CSCOO), Florida State University College of Communication & Information (FSU CCI), Florida Technology Council, i2X Solutions, Kristy Tillman, Ruvos, and Tallahassee State College.
For more information or to register, visit LeonCountyFL.gov/SafeSense or call 850-606-2665. Lunch will be provided.
For more information, contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at 850-606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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