Cyber Fraudsters Increasingly Target Elderly As Digital Scams Surge
Senior citizens are increasingly falling prey to cybercriminals, with scammers exploiting their trust, limited digital literacy and social isolation to siphon off life savings through fake customer care calls, impersonation of government officials, fraudulent investment schemes and phishing links.
HYDERABAD: Senior citizens are increasingly falling prey to cybercriminals, with scammers exploiting their trust, limited digital literacy and social isolation to siphon off life savings through fake customer care calls, impersonation of government officials, fraudulent investment schemes and phishing links.
Cybercrime officials say elderly victims are often specifically targeted as fraudsters perceive them to be less familiar with evolving online scams and digital banking safeguards. Many are manipulated into sharing OTPs, banking credentials or transferring money under the guise of resolving KYC issues, updating pension records or claiming attractive investment returns.
In several cases, scammers also emotionally manipulate victims by posing as relatives or officials handling emergency situations.
Crimes against senior citizens registered a sharp increase in 2024, with the latest NCRB figures showing nearly a 17 per cent rise across the country compared to the previous year. Telangana recorded an even steeper increase of around 35 per cent, with cheating, forgery, financial fraud and cybercrimes accounting for a significant share of cases involving elderly victims.
Hemanshu Jain, director of Khyaal Foundation, an age-tech platform working on senior wellbeing and digital inclusion attributed the rise not only to organised cybercrime networks but also to changing social patterns. Jain said, “Many senior citizens live alone after their children relocate for work, making them more susceptible to unsolicited phone calls and online deception. Dependence on others for digital transactions, coupled with inadequate awareness of cyber safety practices, has further widened the risk.”
Jain added, “Cybercrime investigators advise senior citizens never to share OTPs, PINs or banking passwords over phone calls, irrespective of the caller's identity. They also urge family members to regularly educate elderly relatives about emerging online frauds and encourage them to verify suspicious requests before transferring money or revealing personal information.”
Highlighting the need for greater digital awareness, Jain also said they have been conducting awareness initiatives to improve digital confidence among elderly citizens. He said the organisation, which works with over four million seniors across the country, provides regular guidance on safe digital practices.