Identifying Scam Calls

Help learners to identify and avoid scam calls

About This Module

This curriculum module is based on takeaways from series three of NYC Digital Safety training videos. You may use this module by:

  • Including it in your pre-existing public workshops
  • Combining it with other NYC Digital Safety modules to make a longer data-privacy focused workshop
  • Sharing the handout with library users at various service points

Downloadable presentation slides, a facilitation guide, and a handout can be found below. The handout from this module has been translated to Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Russian, and Spanish.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

  • Describe scam calls   
  • Name different types of scam calls  
  • Use best practices for identifying and avoiding scam calls

Lesson Plan

This lesson plan is also included in the downloadable facilitation guide below. You are welcome to use any and all of this, or adapt it as you see fit. The handout from this module has been translated into Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Russian, and Spanish.

Introduction and welcome

Greet learners and review the plan for this module

Defining and discussing scam calls

Start by introducing a definition of scam calls. Then, open a discussion and have your learners share their own experiences with scam calls

Scam calls, how they work, and key features and traits of scam calls

Review the slides that provide an overview of scam calls, including types of scam calls and how they work. Pause to see if anyone has additional examples to share or any thoughts or questions

Overview of ways to avoid scam calls

Begin by distinguishing between scam calls and scam emails and then review the list of ways to avoid scam calls. Pause to see if people have other suggestions to add

Wrap up, final tips, and final questions

Review the closing thoughts and share the suggested resources. See if anyone has any final questions

Next Steps

Download the materials below for use in your workshop or at service points throughout your library.

If you plan to create a longer privacy-focused workshop using these materials, here is a link to Google slides. Feel free to make a copy if you’d like to add these slides to any other deck.

And please let us know how it went! Use this form to share your feedback on this module. We’d love to hear from you.