Cybercriminals target elderly in growing online fraud crisis fueled by ageism and socioeconomic vulnerabilities

A new study warns that cybercriminals are using ageism and socioeconomic vulnerabilities as strategic tools in digital fraud against senior citizens, adding that society must respond not with sympathy alone but with structural reforms grounded in understanding and resilience-building.

Published in Security Journal (2025), the study titled "Cybercrime against senior citizens: exploring ageism, ideal victimhood, and the pivotal role of socioeconomics," the research redefines the relationship between cybercrime and elder abuse. It introduces a new conceptualization of ageism specific to cybercrime and calls for urgent reforms in digital inclusion, security awareness, and elder protections.

Why are older adults more vulnerable to cybercrime?

With the population aged 65 and older expected to surpass 1.6 billion by 2050, the digital exposure of seniors is increasing just as their ability to defend against online deception is declining. This vulnerability is exacerbated by cognitive decline, reduced decision-making capacity, financial insecurity or dependence, and a higher-than-average trust in institutions and people.

Older adults experience varying degrees of cognitive decline, gradual, sudden, or rapid, each of which can severely limit their capacity to recognize scams or execute safe digital behavior. This is not only a physiological issue but also one of social disengagement. As elders withdraw from social networks or face isolation, they lose access to digital peer learning and critical security knowledge, making them easier prey for sophisticated scams such as tech support fraud, romance scams, and fake investment pitches.

The study also highlights that cybercriminals target both affluent and financially struggling seniors. Those with wealth are seen as lucrative targets, while low-income seniors may be lured into high-risk schemes promising large returns. Financial exploitation by trusted family members or caregivers further compounds the problem, often going unreported due to shame, dependence, or fear of losing independence.

What role does ageism play in online victimization?

The study redefines ageism in the context of cybercrime. The authors argue that ageism functions not only as a social bias but as an operational tool wielded by cybercriminals. It involves the deliberate targeting of older individuals based on assumptions of gullibility, diminished capacity, and digital illiteracy. These ageist presumptions are weaponized to increase the likelihood of successful scams.

Additionally, the study employs the sociological theory of the "ideal victim" to explain society's response to such crimes. Older adults, perceived as morally upright and undeserving of their victimization, fit this archetype. However, this narrative often leads to passive societal responses, including under-reporting and insufficient policy interventions. Despite the emotional, cognitive, and financial devastation these crimes inflict, victims frequently remain invisible in both crime statistics and public discourse.

Furthermore, the report critiques conventional cybercrime classification models, which fail to distinguish between different motivational categories of cyber offenses. It advocates for the adoption of the Tripartite Cybercrime Framework (TCF), which separates cybercrimes into socioeconomic, psychological, and geopolitical categories. The authors argue that crimes against senior citizens fall predominantly under the socioeconomic category, driven by financial motives rather than emotional or ideological ones.

How can society address these overlapping risks?

The authors call for a re-evaluation of digital policy, elder care frameworks, and cybersecurity education tailored for older adults. A key recommendation is to integrate the socioeconomic dimension into cybercrime classifications to better understand and prevent offenses that disproportionately affect seniors. The researchers argue that current frameworks obscure the financial motivations behind most scams targeting the elderly and fail to support tailored countermeasures.

The study identifies specific vulnerabilities that heighten exposure to fraud: poor cybersecurity awareness, lack of access to support networks, limited confidence in navigating the internet, and absence of robust reporting mechanisms. It points out that many seniors are unaware of how or where to report cybercrimes, and that underreporting is especially acute in cases involving family members or close acquaintances.

Another layer of risk emerges from older adults’ increased fear of online threats, which often leads to impulsive or misinformed responses. Cybercriminals manipulate this fear by using urgent messages or impersonating authority figures, pushing victims into hasty decisions that result in financial loss. The elderly also struggle with distinguishing legitimate from fake websites, particularly under pressure from deceptive tactics that demand immediate action.

In addition to technological solutions, the study urges societies to counter ageism both in digital spaces and public policy. Educational campaigns, peer-support initiatives, inclusive technology design, and better training for frontline health and social workers are vital steps in reducing these risks. A shift in perception, from viewing older adults as passive users to empowering them as capable digital participants, is central to the authors’ vision.