Thursday, March 19, 2026
Community
By Amanda Alaniz
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MARCH 19, 2026 – The Federal Trade Commission reported in 2024 that millions of Americans lost money to fraud, with older adults representing the majority of victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says this group is often targeted because of their trusting nature and unfamiliarity with technology.
To help address these issues, Dr. Minzhi Ye, assistant professor in the UTRGV School of Social Work, with support from Dr. Luis Raul Torres-Hostos, dean, organized a conference to equip older adults and caregivers with tools to stay safe online.
“Staying Safe, Smart and Well Online: Empowering Older Adults in the Digital Age,” is scheduled for March 24-25, 2026. The event will promote digital literacy and fraud prevention, encourage intergenerational learning and strengthen community partnerships that support digital inclusion and aging.
Attendees will hear from experts representing organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, WellMed Charitable Foundation, AARP and others. Over two days, speakers will cover digital resources, protecting personal information, online risks and vulnerabilities, and ways to strengthen support systems for older adults.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident online,” Ye said. “Together, we can empower our older adults to stay connected, protected and thriving in a digital world.”
This is UTRGV’s first conference on the topic; Ye said she hopes it will become a recurring event.
To register for the conference, visit https://utrgv.zoom.us/meeting/register/lq4xfG0vTrmk5MtoXt3LVQ#/registration.
To learn more about the conference, contact Dr. Minzhi Ye at minzhi.ye@utrgv.edu.
ABOUT UTRGV
Celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2025-2026 academic year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is on a mission to transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world. As one of the country’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Seal of Excelencia certified, UTRGV has earned national recognition for its academic excellence, social mobility, and student success since opening in Fall 2015. Ranked among the Best Colleges for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars in 2025 by Washington Monthly (7 nationally; 1 in Texas), UTRGV continues to break enrollment records, launch new academic and athletics programs and progress toward achieving R1 research status. Additionally, UTRGV holds the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded in 2020 and 2025, reflecting its commitment to strengthening community ties and addressing local challenges.
The only university in Texas with schools of Medicine and Podiatric Medicine, UTRGV’s regional footprint spans South Texas – with locations, teaching sites, and centers established in Edinburg, Brownsville, Rio Grande City, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Laredo, Port Isabel and South Padre Island.