Marija Petrović | 3 Sep 2026

Trust allows people to maintain relationships, participate in communities and ask for support. It also makes cooperation possible across generations, institutions and cultures. Yet trust is precisely what many fraudsters attempt to exploit.

A caller introduces themselves as a bank employee. A message appears to come from a familiar organisation. Someone claims that a relative urgently needs help. The convincing element is often more than the story itself: it is the relationship or authority the person pretends to represent.

For organisations working in education and cultural relations, this raises an important question: how can people protect themselves while remaining open to others?

Making room for verification

Fraud prevention should help people distinguish between trust and a demand for unquestioning obedience. A legitimate relationship allows space for questions. Pressure to act immediately, keep a request secret or avoid consulting someone else should prompt a pause.

The ODYSSEY project, implemented by the Institute for Cultural Relations Policy and the Regional Volunteer Centre in Kielce, approaches this challenge through education for older adults. During the Hungarian workshop programme, the message “Stop, Think and Call someone” offered an accessible way to interrupt pressure and seek reassurance.

Confidence through conversation

Discussing suspicious situations in a supportive environment can make asking for assistance feel more natural. It also creates opportunities to recognise knowledge that participants already possess: experience, caution and an understanding of human behaviour are valuable resources.

The wider educational task is to preserve people’s confidence in their ability to navigate relationships. A person who feels able to question a request, verify a claim and consult a trusted contact has more room to make an informed decision.

Through ODYSSEY, ICRP connects fraud awareness with this broader aim: supporting independence while strengthening the relationships that help people feel secure.

The blog entry is part of the “ODYSSEY – Your Financial Security” project, financed by the European Commission.