Counter Fraud Youth Education & Awareness

With his Counter Fraud Youth Education project, Abdul Karim aims to raise awareness among parents, children, and youth professionals about the increasing dangers of fraud and child financial exploitation, as well as provide them with resources to protect themselves.

Preventative education is more important than ever before in a world where young people are more vulnerable to online fraud, money laundering and identity theft. In addition to four informative workshops, this initiative reached many families with a youth produced fraud film. The Mayor's Office and other local officials have taken notice of its effectiveness, which may be the beginning of a larger effort to stop fraud among young people.

Why did you think your project was important to address health and wellbeing in your community?
While most people think of fraud as an issue affecting adults, there has been a dramatic increase in the targeting of young people as of late. Because they use technology and social media so frequently and frequently without proper education, young people are easy prey for fraudsters who target them for things like internet scams, identity theft, and unauthorised access to personal information. Many youths are naive about the dangers that may lurk, leaving them open to predatory schemes.

An effort to address this increasing issue led to the creation of the Community Counter-Fraud Project. The goal of our interactive and instructional platform was to raise awareness among sector professionals who work with young people and the community about the dangers of fraud and inspire them to take precautions. The need of educating parents and giving them the tools they need to protect their children's digital and financial futures was equally paramount to us.

What's something that's surprised you in this process?
The fact that the project's impact extended beyond the workshops was a particularly promising result. The Mayor's Office took notice of the project due to its importance and success and has subsequently given support. The initiative was praised by the Mayor's Office for taking a proactive stance against a prevalent issue after hearing about the results of the workshops and the shocking discovery of how prevalent fraud is among young people.

Greater finance and wider implementation are now possible thanks to the Mayor's Office's expressed interest in future partnership. The Mayor's Office endorsement confirms the project's vital role in community protection and highlights the necessity for sustainable, long-term initiatives to combat systemic fraud.

What change would you like to see so that more people can be empowered to make decisions on the issues that affect them?
Even while the Community Counter-Fraud Project has achieved a lot, there is obviously still a long way to go. The problem of fraud aimed at young people is evolving from a purely criminal one to one that affects public health. Victims of deception, especially younger ones, might suffer long-term emotional and financial effects. Victims of fraud often suffer psychological and emotional damage as a result of the ordeal, which can leave them feeling violated and distrustful.

We need to adapt our strategies to keep up with the increasingly complex nature of fraud. More schools, youth centers, and community organisations can be reached if this campaign receives ongoing support and funding Curbing the rising tide of teenage fraud requires a comprehensive plan that include ongoing education, parental involvement, and government support.

the Counter-Fraud youth education Project is only the start of what will hopefully be a long and fruitful campaign against fraud. We have set the stage for future success by increasing awareness, offering practical answers, and including families in this important discussion. Local authorities, schools, and families must all remain committed to the fight against youth fraud if it is to be successful. We can only spare future generations the devastation that fraud causes by working together in this way.

Testimonials
Participants' first-hand accounts and introspections demonstrate the project's fruition and the breadth of its influence. The following are comments made by the workshop participants:

"I had no idea how easy it was for con artists to get your personal information before the workshop. The sheer variety of people's tricks was shocking and how they trap our children is scary. More needs to be done.”

"The workshop had effect on me. I had no clue that so many individuals my age were being deceived. My awareness has been greatly enhanced.”

The wide-ranging effects of the initiative on kids and their families are borne out by these testimonies. Everyone learnt something useful that would keep them safe going forward, and many people were thankful for the chance to study in such a welcoming setting.