"This is not a scam!": Assessment of an awareness raising program tackling older adults’ scam victimization in a multi-method study

Abstract

Interactive theatre has long been used to educate and empower communities and prevent crime across all age groups. Although older populations are disproportionately victimized through fraudulent online schemes, effective educational interventions, like interactive theatre, have not been utilized to increase crime awareness.

This paper describes an explorational research project, analyzing the results of a theatre-based fraud awareness program aimed towards educating victims and their communities about scams targeting older people. The study employs a mixed method research design to examine program impact. In applying multifaceted tools of data collection, such as survey, participant observation, and follow-up interviews, the research team identified program effects, and age-specific appropriateness of the intervention. To close, we synthesized recommendations for program development.

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