ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - In today's rapidly evolving digital world, many individuals may find themselves at risk.

In response, Fulton County launched an online training program to help seniors recognize and avoid those scams. The numbers suggest seniors are the most vulnerable.

The FBI reported that seniors suffered the most financial losses last year, amounting to roughly $5 billion. It's why the county created ACT: Avoid Cyber Threats.

It's free and helps seniors detect digital scams.

"They actually took $2,000 out of my bank account," said Fulton County resident Cheryl Maxwell, about a recent digital scam scare.

She shared a story about an "urgent" email regarding a potential fraudulent purchase that led to a phone call to an unknown number, and then thousands of dollars disappeared.

She said her bank helped her recover the lost funds.

"I have met people who are not as fortunate," added Maxwell.

The numbers are staggering: the FBI recently revealed that suspected internet crime losses exceeded $16 billion in 2024. Seniors lost nearly $5 billion in 2024 and Georgians rank 7th nationally for financial losses to internet crimes.

"How do you stay safe [and] how do you avoid scams?" asked Andre Gregory, the Program Manager for the Fulton County Senior Services Department.

He's raising awareness of the county's newly launched free online cybersecurity training program for seniors.

"We're doing a really good job of introducing them to new things and new technology, but we also could be introducing them to some kind of harm if we don't give them the tools to stay safe," said Gregory.

It's precisely the mission of Avoid Cyber Threats, the free Fulton County program launched in August, which you can take online.

It helps seniors, like Maxwell, learn how to detect AI voice cloning, government impersonation, and even phishing scams designed to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as bank account details.

"One of the things I liked about the training was that it gave me examples of things I probably would not have thought were a scam because it looks so legitimate, and even how to recognize it by how the letters are formed, or even the style, to be able to pick it up," said Maxwell.

The county hopes to train 2,000 seniors and caregivers by the end of the year.