Think Before You Click: The Scam Awareness Quiz
The Scam Quiz is an interactive social media project created in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Designed as part of HSI’s efforts to distinguish itself from DHS and highlight its role in protecting the public, this project focuses on educating people about common scams, including romance scams, lottery scams, and tax fraud. Through a series of engaging videos, viewers are challenged to identify whether a given message—delivered via text, email, or physical mail—is legitimate or a scam. Using fabricated and animated examples, the project serves as a public service announcement, raising awareness about the tactics scammers use and helping people recognize red flags before falling victim.
Client
Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DELIVERABLES
Animation Visual Design Educational Content Public Awareness Campaign
Year
2024
Role
Creative Direction, Animator, Visual Designer
Text/Phone
Physical Mail
Designing Authentic-Looking Scams
For each iteration of the Scam Quiz project, I began with extensive research into real-life scams—examining how they’re structured, the language they use, and how convincingly they mimic legitimate communications. Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, making it crucial to understand the subtle differences between real inquiries and fraudulent attempts. My goal was to create fabricated assets and interfaces that were as realistic as possible, ensuring that anyone who engaged with these quizzes could walk away with a stronger ability to spot red flags in their own daily interactions. Using my research, I meticulously designed and animated fake messages across various mediums—text messages, emails, and physical mail—to replicate the look and feel of actual scams. Every detail, from formatting and sender information to the wording and sense of urgency often used by scammers, was carefully crafted to be believable while still offering a teachable moment. While I strived for accuracy in portraying these scams, I recognize that new variations are always emerging, and some will still manage to fool people. The project ultimately serves as an accessible and engaging resource, helping viewers sharpen their awareness and skepticism when encountering potential scams in the real world.
Think Before You Click: The Scam Awareness Quiz
The Scam Quiz is an interactive social media project created in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Designed as part of HSI’s efforts to distinguish itself from DHS and highlight its role in protecting the public, this project focuses on educating people about common scams, including romance scams, lottery scams, and tax fraud. Through a series of engaging videos, viewers are challenged to identify whether a given message—delivered via text, email, or physical mail—is legitimate or a scam. Using fabricated and animated examples, the project serves as a public service announcement, raising awareness about the tactics scammers use and helping people recognize red flags before falling victim.
Client
Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DELIVERABLES
Animation Visual Design Educational Content Public Awareness Campaign
Year
2024
Role
Creative Direction, Animator, Visual Designer
Text/Phone
Physical Mail
Designing Authentic-Looking Scams
For each iteration of the Scam Quiz project, I began with extensive research into real-life scams—examining how they’re structured, the language they use, and how convincingly they mimic legitimate communications. Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, making it crucial to understand the subtle differences between real inquiries and fraudulent attempts. My goal was to create fabricated assets and interfaces that were as realistic as possible, ensuring that anyone who engaged with these quizzes could walk away with a stronger ability to spot red flags in their own daily interactions. Using my research, I meticulously designed and animated fake messages across various mediums—text messages, emails, and physical mail—to replicate the look and feel of actual scams. Every detail, from formatting and sender information to the wording and sense of urgency often used by scammers, was carefully crafted to be believable while still offering a teachable moment. While I strived for accuracy in portraying these scams, I recognize that new variations are always emerging, and some will still manage to fool people. The project ultimately serves as an accessible and engaging resource, helping viewers sharpen their awareness and skepticism when encountering potential scams in the real world.