Many elderly adults in the UK are at risk from cybercriminals and frequently targeted by fraudulent attacks.

A study conducted by the University of Portsmouth reveals that 40% of respondents experienced online fraud. Three-quarters of these attacks targeted seniors’ mobile phones, with 60% initiated through phone calls and about 11% via text messages. These persistent attempts left many feeling harassed to the extent that their mental health was affected.

“Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable due to the social engineering tactics cybercriminals employ,” said Tracy Kitten, Director of Fraud and Security at Javelin Strategy & Research. “Creating a sense of urgency and using threatening language makes victims feel as if they’re cornered. This tactic is especially effective with seniors who might fear harm or financial penalties for not complying immediately.”

Particularly Vulnerable

In the U.S., fraud through phone calls isn’t as common, but criminals are more likely to impersonate top companies like Amazon, Best Buy, and PayPal in fraudulent emails and text messages.

Phone calls accounted for 32% of fraud attacks in the U.S. last year, down from 67% a few years ago. Regardless of the method, fraud is on the rise globally, and seniors are especially susceptible. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that complaints from adults over 60 were up 11% year-over-year in 2023.

Quality of Life

The heightened vulnerability among seniors has made them frequent targets for criminals. The UK study found that two-thirds of respondents had experienced at least one fraud attempt in the past six months, with 20% facing such attacks weekly.

“Even when many older adults recognize these are scams and quickly hang up, the attempts still significantly impact their lives,” said Mark Button, Director of the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime and author of the study. “Further research is needed to explore how attempted fraud affects individuals’ fear of crime and overall quality of life across all age groups.”