Speaking Engagements
Research talks for cyber, legal, guardianship, and victim-support audiences.
LD Herrera presents research on romance scams, AI-enhanced fraud, reporting behavior, concealment, and coordinated support for victims.
When Help Looks Like the Enemy: How Scammers Block Intervention | 2026 National Conference on Guardianship
October 17-20, 2026 | Washington, DC
Everyone talks about how scammers persuade. Far fewer talk about how victims conceal. This session uses new anonymous survey findings to show how romance scams stay hidden, even when friends, family, or professionals are suspicious. It makes concealment behaviors visible, giving professionals a sharper lens for recognizing what is happening beneath the surface.
Victims' Voices: Toward a National Romance Scam Support Model | Dakota State University
March 25, 2026 | Madison, SD
Dissertation defense presenting a victim-centered model for romance scam support, with emphasis on reducing reporting burden, improving expectation management, and connecting evidence collection to practical help.
Romance Scam Reporting: Help-Seeking Timing, Trust, and Escalation | IEEE ISDFS 2026
March 19-20, 2026 | Boston, MA
Paper presentation on when victims seek help, how trust changes expectations of assistance, and why reporting systems need clearer pathways from first disclosure to coordinated response.
Romance Scam Victimization | IEEE ISDFS 2025
April 24-25, 2025 | Boston, MA
Paper presentation based on survey responses from 366 romance scam victims, highlighting financial harm, psychological distress, underreporting, and the consequences of relying only on informal support.
Bridging the Protection Gap | IEEE CARS 2024
October 28-29, 2024 | Grand Forks, ND
Paper presentation on how AI can intensify scams against older adults by improving credibility, speed, personalization, and detectability gaps, with recommendations for stronger support networks.
An Exploration of Modern Scams Affecting Vulnerable Populations | 2024 National Conference on Guardianship
October 19-22, 2024 | Long Beach, CA
This educational lecture was presented twice at the 2024 National Conference on Guardianship. It pulls back the curtain on how modern tech gives fraudsters an open season on vulnerable populations. Participants leave informed, empowered, and impassioned to shield susceptibilities, undo damages, and shut down these 21st-century swindlers for good.
Bridging the Protection Gap | IEEE DPSH 2024
October 14-15, 2024 | Washington, DC
Paper presentation at the IEEE Conference on Digital Platforms and Societal Harms, focused on AI-enhanced scams and updated protections for older adults.
Bridging the Protection Gap | CAE-R Symposium 2024
October 10, 2024 | St. Louis, MO
Poster presentation at the National Centers for Academic Excellence Research Symposium, highlighting how AI can strengthen scams and why protective support networks need to evolve.
The Trajectory of Romance Scams in the U.S. | IEEE ISDFS 2024
April 29-30, 2024 | San Antonio, TX
Paper presentation examining romance scam trends through multiple public signals, including web searches, news coverage, research publications, and government reports.