The world is changing rapidly. Here’s how Federation’s head of IT is thinking about it.
Rob Golub, Editor
In June, Chronicle editor Rob Golub sat down with Scot Henry, IT and Cybersecurity Manager for Milwaukee Jewish Federation. This is an edited version of that conversation, focused on Internet safety and the speed of tech progress today.
In a rapidly changing world, what is the Federation’s expert on internet technology thinking? How can we stay safe?
Q: What worries you most, on behalf of the public, about the rapid changes in technology, the internet, and AI?
Scot Henry: A couple of things concern me.
One is the lag time between when someone invents a new way to deceive people and when the public learns how to recognize and avoid it. In the past, scams tended to stick around for a while. Once enough people understood the red flags, they could protect themselves and spread the word.
Now, everything moves so fast that a scam can come and go before most people even know it exists. The public doesn’t have time to catch up, and that’s dangerous.
The other concern is more societal. To really protect yourself these days, you almost have to be suspicious by default —even of people or organizations you would normally trust. That shift from openness to constant guardedness worries me. Some might say we’re just becoming less naive, but it’s unfortunate if we feel we can’t be open and trusting with others anymore.
Q: Given this environment, what’s your advice for people trying to protect themselves? What should they be doing?
Scot Henry, IT and Cybersecurity Manager
Henry: It’s impossible to keep up with every specific scam, because they change so quickly. So instead of focusing on each new trick, I recommend watching for the common patterns.
Almost every scam will eventually ask for one of two things:
- Money, often through some kind of unusual or urgent transaction, or
- Personal or confidential information, like Social Security numbers, account logins, or one-time codes.
Any time you get a request involving those, it should immediately raise a red flag. Ask yourself: Why do they need this? Does this make sense? And be willing to say, “No,” or, “I’ll get back to you,” instead of responding on the spot.
That pause might feel inconvenient, but it creates space to verify whether what’s happening is legitimate or not.
Q: Don’t scammers often try to create a feeling of crisis so that people don’t pause and think?
Henry: Absolutely. Creating a sense of crisis is a very common tactic.
For example, there have been cases where scammers contact someone and claim to be holding their child for ransom. They’ll even play audio that sounds like the child’s voice begging for help. With AI, scammers can now generate convincing audio from just a few seconds of someone’s real voice.
Even in a situation that feels that alarming, you still don’t need to immediately hand over money or personal information. That’s when you should involve law enforcement. Bringing in law enforcement — or even just a second pair of eyes — provides a reality check. They’ve seen these situations before and can advise you on what to do if it’s real and tell you when it’s safe to ignore a threat if it’s not.
Q: Have you personally changed anything in how you live or work because of this changing world?
Henry: Yes, I’ve definitely changed my habits.
With email, even messages that appear to come from organizations I trust, I’m much more cautious about clicking links. If an email asks me to click a link to log in or manage my account, I won’t use the link in the message. Instead, I’ll go directly to the company’s website by typing the address in myself, and then navigate from there.
I’ve also become more careful with web searches. Recently, I needed the customer service number for AT&T. I searched on my phone and called the first number that came up. When the recording answered, it said, “Thank you for calling about AT&T,” which sounded off to me. That “about” was a clue that this might not be AT&T itself. I hung up, searched again, and made sure I was on AT&T’s official website before calling the number listed there. That second call reached the real company.
It’s small details like that — listening carefully, double-checking websites — that can make the difference.
Q: It sounds like even people with expertise can get fooled for a moment. What does that mean for people who aren’t tech-savvy?
Henry: That’s exactly the concern. If someone who works in IT and cybersecurity can be fooled for a few seconds, it’s easy to see how anyone — especially those who didn’t grow up with this technology — could be vulnerable.
We live in a culture that tells us faster is better. Click quickly, respond quickly, solve it now. But when it comes to potential scams, slowness is your friend. Taking a moment to ask, “What website am I on? Who is really contacting me? What are they asking me to do?” can prevent a lot of harm.
Q: What specific advice would you give for protecting older people from scams?
Henry: Older adults are often targeted, and many of them value their independence—rightfully so. But independence doesn’t have to mean facing everything alone.
One practical step is to set up an agreement within the family or with a trusted friend:
- If an older person gets a suspicious call, email, or message—especially one involving money or personal information—they can check in with their “lifeline” person before acting.
- That lifeline might be an adult child, a grandchild, or a close friend who’s comfortable with technology.
We, as family and friends, should actively offer that support. Say: “If anything seems odd or urgent, call me first. I’m happy to be a second pair of eyes.” Honestly, we could all benefit from that kind of arrangement, but it’s especially important for older people who are being targeted.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple: we don’t want to see our parents, grandparents, or older friends harmed by something that could have been caught with one extra conversation.
Q: Is there anything else you’d emphasize for people trying to stay safe?
Henry: The biggest things are:
- Expect that scams will keep evolving.
- Be cautious whenever money or personal information is involved.
- Slow down, question urgency, and don’t be afraid to say no or to ask someone else to take a look.
A little skepticism and a brief pause can go a very long way.
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