Our Story
How it started
I founded the Digital Trust Initiative at 14, after my own family was hit by a devastating scam. Overnight, digital fraud stopped being a headline and became something that had happened to people I love. Unfortunately, we were far from alone. In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded $16.6 billion in reported losses, a 33% increase from the year before.
That experience gave DTI its mission: to make scam prevention resources accessible across languages before harm occurs. Too often, the people most at risk are the ones with the least access to clear, trustworthy information, whether because of a language barrier or because reliable help isn’t reaching their community. DTI exists to close that gap by giving underserved and marginalized communities the knowledge to recognize digital threats and protect themselves. Because everyone deserves to feel safe online.
What we're building
Three initiatives, each aimed at a gap that leaves people exposed to scams. Part of this work is live on this website today; the rest is where we are headed.
A global archive for scam prevention
Scams cross borders and languages with ease. Trustworthy guidance often does not. We are building a multilingual archive of scam-prevention resources so that anyone can learn to recognize, avoid and report scams in the language they understand best.
Protection should not depend on what language you speak.
Today: The Scam Library, Survivor Kit and guides on this site are available in five languages: English, Korean, Spanish, French and Arabic.
Our goal: Scam-prevention education in 10+ languages, with culturally relevant resources for communities that existing digital safety education does not reach.
The Scam Survivor Kit
Shame and isolation often follow a scam, keeping people from asking for help, and people who have already lost money are often targeted again by fake “recovery” services. The Survivor Kit is a practical, multilingual recovery toolkit: it walks survivors through their next steps, points them to the right reporting channels and support, and helps them avoid being targeted again.
No one should have to navigate the aftermath of a scam alone.
Today: The first version of the Survivor Kit is live on this site: a step-by-step recovery checklist with links to official reporting channels.
Our goal: Recovery guidance in every language our archive covers, and a public conversation about scams that moves from blame to empathy, support and prevention.
The next generation of digital trust
Young people are often the first to encounter new scam tactics, and the people their families turn to for help with technology. We want to equip them with the knowledge and critical-thinking skills to recognize manipulation, identify scams and protect themselves and their communities online.
Prevention starts before victimization.
Today: DTI was founded by a 14-year-old and is led by young people.
Our goal: A generation of informed young advocates and educators who carry scam-prevention knowledge to their families, peers, schools and communities.
Where we're going
DTI aims to grow into a global, youth-driven movement for digital trust and consumer protection that works across borders and languages. We want to bring together educators, scam survivors, researchers, policymakers, technology leaders and communities to prevent scams, widen access to reliable education, challenge victim-blaming and push for stronger consumer protection.
A world where language, shame, and lack of knowledge never stand between people and protection from scams.
Prevention without borders
Scam education that is multilingual, accessible and culturally relevant, so it reaches people where they are, in the language they understand best.
Advocacy without silence
Reducing the stigma around scams, elevating survivors’ experiences, and advancing public awareness and stronger consumer protection.
A generation prepared to protect
Empowering young people to become educators, advocates and leaders in digital trust, in their own communities and beyond.
Because a lack of education should never be the reason someone is scammed. And language should never be the reason they cannot recover.