Date of Event: November 12–13, 2024
Event: Global Anti-Scam Summit Americas 2024
This engaging panel discussion brought together leaders from technology, law enforcement, financial services, and consumer advocacy to explore strategies for safeguarding Americans from scams. Moderated by Ayelet Biger-Levin, Board Member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, the session highlighted innovative approaches and cross-sector collaboration to combat the evolving threat of fraud.
Key Themes and Insights
Ayelet Biger-Levin (Moderator): Emphasized the importance of unified efforts to tackle scams, noting that the U.S. lacks the level of government involvement seen in countries like Australia and the UK. She advocated for a coordinated, multi-sector approach to disrupt scam operations effectively.
Lucia Harris (Match Group): Shared insights from the Tech Against Scams Coalition, highlighting the creation of a blueprint for industry collaboration. She detailed initiatives like a scam protection opportunity index, knowledge-sharing frameworks, and targeted consumer awareness campaigns to protect users across digital platforms.
Ken Westbrook (Stop Scams Alliance): Highlighted the need for proactive "left of boom" strategies to disrupt scams before they occur. Drawing comparisons to effective practices in the UK and Australia, he underscored the role of threat intelligence platforms and public-private partnerships in combating organized crime.
Lisa Plaggemier (National Cyber Security Alliance): Discussed consumer education campaigns like Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which focuses on actionable advice to reduce scam susceptibility. She stressed the importance of positive, relatable messaging to encourage adoption of secure behaviors like enabling MFA and recognizing phishing attempts.
Kate Griffin (The Aspen Institute): Introduced the National Task Force for Fraud and Scam Prevention, emphasizing the need for a coordinated national strategy. She highlighted the task force’s efforts to align cross-sector initiatives, close policy gaps, and establish metrics for measuring success in scam prevention.
The Power of Collaboration
The panelists agreed that addressing scams requires unprecedented collaboration across sectors. Initiatives like the Tech Against Scams Coalition and partnerships with government bodies, tech platforms, and consumer advocates illustrate the potential for collective action. Success stories from other countries were cited as models for the U.S. to adopt, emphasizing the value of information sharing and unified approaches.
Looking Ahead
The session concluded with a call to action for stronger partnerships and increased government engagement in the fight against scams. By uniting efforts across industries and borders, the panelists believe the U.S. can build a more resilient ecosystem to protect consumers and disrupt criminal networks.
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