PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CAMPUS One of the strengths of Indiana is that we bring together a variety of perspectives from the plethora of areas that touch the field of cyber, especially through the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education throughout our state. Hence the name, “Perspectives from the Campus”, we invite experts – immersed in the pursuit of educating their students – to offer their knowledge for finding solutions in cybersecurity that benefit all Hoosiers. In the latest installment of this series, David Dungan, who serves as the executive director at the Center for Security Services and Cyber Defense at Anderson University, shares his perspective on the cybersecurity threats faced by older Americans and the steps they can take to protect themselves when it comes to avoiding online scams. By David Dungan From managing retirement savings to staying connected with family, older Americans are more active online than ever before. However, this increased connectivity has made them a prime target for cybercriminals. Scammers often view older adults as easier victims, using convincing emails, fake websites, and phone calls to steal money and personal information. Many of these scams are carefully designed to appear legitimate, making them difficult to recognize at first glance. In 2025, Older Americans (aged 60 and older) filed 201,266 fraud complaints totaling $7.75 billion in losses, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3) – an increase of nearly 37 percent from the previous year. Investment scams resulted in the highest financial losses, often luring victims with promises of high returns and little risk. At the same time, phishing and spoofing remain the most common methods used by scammers, typically carried out through emails, phone calls, or text messages that appear to come from trusted sources. Despite these growing threats, there are practical steps