Abstract

"Wally's Wild West" is an interactive educational game designed to combat the growing issue of phishing emails, spam calls, and malicious texts. Through engaging real-world scenarios players are asked to identify the scam in which they are given and how to properly respond to it. With the help of storytelling, Wally's Wild West transforms digital literacy into an enjoyable experience. Players earn points as well as advancing to the next level for correctly identifying scams and how to properly avoid them in the future. If the player chooses the incorrect option, they are given another opportunity to answer, and the game offers immediate feedback explaining the potential risk. Wally's Wild West is not just a game, it's a movement that creates more confident and connected communities while educating individuals about the dangers of scams.