The countdown to M3AAWG’s 65th General Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, taking place from October 13-16, 2025, is underway. If you're planning to attend, we hope this special preview of the agenda offers an early glimpse of what to expect.

Banking on Security: Finance Track Headlines M3AAWG65

Given Charlotte’s reputation as a world-class financial services hub, this meeting will feature a dedicated financial technology track. The financial track will be focused on bringing key players to the table to focus on continued threats, fighting abuse, and how the industry can work alongside each other in both prevention and mitigation of financial abuse. 

Sara Roper, Chairperson of the M3AAWG Board of Directors, shared, “As M3AAWG gathers in Charlotte, we're continuing to strengthen the global fight to keep money out of adversaries' hands.  With a dedicated financial track, this meeting highlights the power of collaboration to protect technologies, economies, institutions, and individuals from online abuse.”

The Financial Track will run alongside Initiative and Committee working sessions and panels on key issues and hot-button topics. 

Keynote Features Global Advocate for Scam Awareness Discussing "Deception by Design"

We are excited to welcome Cecilie Fjellhøy for her keynote address in Charlotte, titled “Deception by Design: How AI, Human Psychology, and Systemic Gaps Are Redefining Trust.” Building on her efforts to spotlight the human impact of fraud, she reached a worldwide audience through Netflix's 2022 documentary, The Tinder Swindler, as well as with her book Swindled Never After.

Fjellhøy’s talk explores her own harrowing experience with fraud, alongside other significant case studies demonstrating how manipulation, financial control, AI, and digital loopholes are fueling deception on an unprecedented scale.

"Cecilie’s keynote will no doubt inspire all of us working to prevent fraud and scams, especially as we hear more about the victim’s side of the equation, which is both devastating and frustrating," said M3AAWG’s Executive Director, Amy Cadagin. "Her talk will cover the psychology of trust, why awareness is our strongest defense, and how the collective failure of many institutions allowed the prolific scammer she dealt with to continue his crimes nearly unscathed."

Fjellhøy is also the host of the Love Con Revenge Netflix series, debuting in September, just in time for attendees to watch before meeting up in Charlotte.

We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon

As M3AAWG continues its vision of a world free of online abuse, Charlotte’s General Meeting agenda features the below high-level themes. 

• AI & Abuse – exploring both the promise and risks of artificial intelligence in security, governance, and scam prevention.
• Messaging Threats – from SMiShing vulnerabilities to large-scale proxy abuse, examining how attackers exploit communications channels.
• Cryptography & Future-Proofing – preparing for the challenges of crypto-agility and the quantum era.
• Policy, Privacy & Regulation – Discussions highlighting the evolving regulatory landscape around privacy, AI, and financial fraud, alongside law enforcement collaboration and cross-sector cooperation against child harms.
• Community & Connection – Networking and community-building remain central to our General Meetings, from guided discussions and new attendee sessions to the always-popular M3AAWG Night Out.

This meeting will also include M3AAWG staples, such as our Open Round Tables (ORTs), Lightning Talks, and the highly anticipated M3AAWG Night Out. Registration is now live, with hotel and sponsorship information available here.

As we approach the meeting, please note that the M3AAWG negotiated hotel room rate is guaranteed until September 19th or until the group block is fully booked. After September 19th, please contact our host hotel—the Sheraton/Le Méridien Charlotte (which is one hotel complex)—directly to check availability.

Additionally, note that the late registration fee of $750 USD will be effective after 5:00 PM PT on October 8.  We look forward to seeing you soon in the Queen City of Charlotte!

For questions about our upcoming meeting, please reach out via the Contact Us form.