Scams and fraud attempts have become a part of everyday life. Whether it is a suspicious text message, a phone call claiming to be from a government agency, a fake technical support warning, or a highly convincing online investment opportunity, criminals continue to find new ways to exploit trust and create a sense of urgency.
To help community members better protect themselves, the Town of Avon Information Technology Department will host a free Community Cybersecurity Awareness Session on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Avon Town Hall Council Chambers.
The event is open to the public and is designed for adults of all ages. No technical background is required.
Rather than focusing on technical jargon or complicated cybersecurity concepts, the presentation will provide practical guidance that attendees can immediately apply when faced with suspicious messages, phone calls, emails, or online interactions.
The session is built around a simple framework:
Pause ? Verify ? Act
Instead of trying to identify every possible scam, attendees will learn a repeatable process they can use whenever something does not seem right.
The presentation will explore how criminals commonly use urgency, fear, authority, familiarity, and trust to pressure victims into making rushed decisions. Attendees will walk through several real-world scam scenarios, including fraudulent bank alerts, jury duty and government impersonation scams, fake technical support scams, and relationship-based investment scams.
The program will also examine how artificial intelligence is making scams more convincing through voice cloning, personalized phishing attempts, and realistic impersonation techniques.
A dedicated section will also cover what steps individuals should take if they have already become the victim of fraud, including protecting accounts, preserving evidence, contacting financial institutions, and using available reporting resources.
The Town has invited the Avon Police Department to participate and provide guidance on fraud reporting, cybercrime reporting, and when residents should contact local law enforcement.
The session will conclude with a moderated question-and-answer period.
The goal is for attendees to leave feeling more confident, more informed, and better prepared to respond to suspicious situations.
If participants remember only one thing, organizers hope it is this: Pause. Verify. Act.
Event Information
Community Cybersecurity Awareness Session
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Avon Town Hall Council Chambers
Free and Open to the Public
