A North Carolina high school student has turned a scam that devastated his grandfather’s business into an effort that now sends more than 30 teenagers into senior communities to help older adults recognize fraud.
Viraj Shah, a junior at Green Level High School in Cary, told WRAL that his grandfather fell for a phishing email in 2022. Someone posing as tech support persuaded him to provide credentials for his business accounts because he believed doing so would protect them.
By the next morning, Shah said, the accounts had been emptied. His grandfather’s business collapsed and he filed for bankruptcy that same week. Shah later developed Click With Confidence, a student led organization focused on helping older adults identify scams and use technology more safely.
The effort comes as reported fraud losses among older Americans continue to rise. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded 201,266 complaints from people 60 and older, with losses totaling approximately $7.75 billion.
More Than 30 Students Now Visit Senior Communities
Click With Confidence has grown into a team of more than 30 high school students who visit senior centers and retirement communities about once a month. Volunteers research current fraud tactics so their sessions can address the types of calls, emails, messages and online requests older adults are encountering now.
The students also explain where victims can report fraud and what to do when personal or financial information has already been compromised. Shah described the project as a way for younger people who are comfortable with changing technology to help seniors navigate unfamiliar digital threats.
The organization has expanded beyond in person presentations. Its website says it prepares middle and high school students to serve as digital mentors, and it has developed a Chrome browser extension designed to identify suspicious email content and explain possible warning signs in plain language.
Older Americans Reported Nearly $7.75 Billion in Losses
Federal investigators are also handling a growing number of cases involving older victims. IRS Criminal Investigation said in June that it opened 255 elder fraud investigations from fiscal 2021 through fiscal 2026 involving approximately $885.86 million in alleged fraud.
Ninety-seven new investigations began during fiscal 2025, followed by another 64 during the first half of fiscal 2026. Nearly $737 million of the alleged fraud identified across the six year period was tied to cases opened during those two most recent periods.
WRAL spoke with IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent John Siddons, who said one recent victim lost approximately $4 million, most of it from a retirement account. Losses involving retirement savings can leave older victims with limited time and income to rebuild what was taken.
AI Can Make Family Impersonation Scams Harder to Recognize
Fraud education increasingly includes scams that use artificial intelligence to imitate a relative’s voice. The North Carolina Department of Justice warns that criminals can pose as grandchildren or other relatives in trouble and may use AI generated audio to make the emergency sound more convincing.
A familiar voice, name or personal detail should not be treated as proof that the request is genuine. North Carolina officials recommend contacting the relative or another trusted family member independently before sending money.
Government impersonation schemes use similar pressure. Scammers may claim to represent the IRS, law enforcement or another agency and threaten arrest or financial consequences. Legitimate government representatives do not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers to make an arrest threat disappear.
Shah Encourages Seniors to Stop Before Acting
Shah’s advice centers on creating time between receiving an alarming message and responding to it. A toll notice, delivery text, account warning, tech support message or family emergency can be checked independently before a link is opened, credentials are shared or money is sent.
North Carolina consumer officials recommend hanging up and contacting the company, relative or government agency through a number obtained independently. Caller ID and contact information supplied in the original message can be manipulated and should not be used as the only verification.
Anyone who has already sent money should contact the relevant bank or payment provider promptly and preserve emails, messages, telephone numbers, receipts and transaction records. Internet enabled fraud can also be reported to the FBI through IC3.gov.
People age 60 and older who need help reporting fraud can contact the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11. The hotline connects callers with trained professionals who can help them report the incident and find additional resources.