Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach (OCEO) and Office of Technology Innovation (OTI) today announced Technology and Fraud: Stopping Scams in a Digital World, a virtual event on Wednesday, October 4, as part of World Investor Week-October 2-9. The week is a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection. Registration is now open for the event.

Financial educators, innovators, regulators, and anyone with interest in these issues are encouraged to register to hear discussions from experts on two panels discussing social media-driven investment fraud and the role artificial intelligence (AI) may play in accelerating online fraud.

Registration for Technology and Fraud: Stopping Scams in a Digital World is free and open to the public. The panels begin at noon EDT, Wednesday, October 4. Register here.

The first panel, Exploring Effective Social Media Investment Scam Interventions, will help participants understand why more people lose money to frauds on social media than all other forms of engagement. The panel will review current fraud trends, including romance scams and digital commodity-related frauds and discuss the social media mechanisms that enable fraud targeting.

The second panel, Is AI for Investors Road-Ready?, will feature financial regulators and experts discussing the questions investors have and insights regarding AI-fueled financial services. Is AI ready to take the wheel? What should I look out for? How do I know if I am being scammed?

“Social media enabled fraud is nothing new, but many may not be aware how fraudsters can leverage these platforms and other methods to draw smart, rational people into bad decisions,” said OCEO Associate Director Dan Rutherford. “The social media panel will shed light on the scale of social media investment fraud, discuss the latest scams and the psychology behind them, and provide insights on effective interventions for educators, policymakers, and industry.”

“As AI technology emerges, experts and investors agree there is both promise and pitfalls,” said OTI Director and panelist Jorge Herrada. “Like any fast-moving technology, education is critical to understand the capabilities of AI, when it is appropriate to use, and how to avoid being scammed.”

About the Office of Customer Education and Outreach (OCEO)

OCEO is dedicated to helping customers protect themselves from fraud or violations of the Commodity Exchange Act through the research and development of effective financial education materials and initiatives. OCEO engages in outreach and education to retail investors, traders, industry organizations, and the agricultural community. The office also frequently partners with federal and state regulators as well as consumer protection groups. The CFTC’s full repository of customer education materials can be found at Learn & Protect.

About the Office of Technology Innovation (OTI)

OTI serves as the CFTC’s financial technology innovation hub, driving change and enhancing knowledge through innovation, consulting/collaboration, and education (ICE). OTI fosters innovation in CFTC’s regulatory oversight and mission critical functions by supporting the operating divisions and the Commission’s participation in domestic and international coordination. OTI regularly advocates for the advancement of responsible innovation, industry collaborations, and public outreach and education.