Tricked, Targeted, Affected – The Impact of Scamming - May 2026

LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Capability Level: Evolving & Established

Scamming has become a widespread and increasingly sophisticated social issue, with significant impacts on individuals and those around them. As scams continue to evolve, their psychological, emotional and social consequences are often poorly understood.

This workshop aims to deepen participants’ understanding of why people fall victim to scams, explore common scam types, and build practical skills for supporting those affected. Participants will also examine the psychological mechanisms underpinning social engineering and online grooming, apply trauma-informed principles to intervention, and consider the broader systemic implications of scamming.

Who should attend?

Social workers and allied health professionals working with individuals affected by scamming, including those with an established level of competency as well as practitioners new to this area of practice who have a professional interest in developing knowledge and skills in this emerging field.

Key skills taught in this workshop:

• Motivational interviewing supporting disengagement in resistant or shame-based presentations
• Trauma-informed engagement and rapport-building
• Crisis planning and advocacy
• Systems navigation and ethical risk assessment

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify scamming prevalence, major types of scams.

2. How to work with victims of scamming and apply supportive disengagement, safety planning and advocacy pathways

3. How to develop intervention plans that include safety, advocacy, and interagency coordination.

Event Structure:

Introduction

Learning Session 1: Identify scamming prevalence, major types of scams.

Learning Activity 1: Interactive group discussion and case study

Learning Session 2: How to work with victims of scamming and apply supportive disengagement, safety planning and advocacy pathways

Learning Activity 2: Interactive group discussion and lived experience impacts

Learning Session 3: How to develop intervention plans that include safety, advocacy, and interagency coordination.

Learning Activity 3: Open discussion and case study

Conclusion and Q&A

AASW Credential: Mental health