Elderly and Digital Vulnerability Predictors

In the digital economy, criminal activities have increased, making all citizens vulnerable. Financial institutions, internet, and telecom operations are taking steps to stop criminal activity, but it is not possible to protect all customers. Fraud remains a significant problem, particularly affecting elderly citizens. This paper focuses on individuals aged 60 years or older, a group that includes both high and low ICT skill levels. The necessity of being digital and protecting personal data is critical, especially as criminals use advanced social engineering techniques and AI tools, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent messages.

Reports indicate that the elderly are frequently targeted by criminals, with terms like “Olga-fraud” describing financial fraud against older women. Understanding why criminals often succeed when targeting elderly citizens is crucial. This study investigates the human factors affecting susceptibility to phishing by analysing data from two samples: a national sample of individuals aged 60–69 years (Study 1) and a sample of retired individuals aged 63–79 years (Study 2).

The research addresses four questions: the predictive value of the cognitive reflection test (CRT), data disclosure test, interpersonal trust, and conformity on experiencing credit card misuse or ID theft. Using binary logistic regression, the study identifies significant predictors of fraud vulnerability. Findings suggest that while CRT is not a significant predictor, data disclosure, interpersonal trust, and conformity are. The studies highlight the importance of personal traits and decision styles in online vulnerability, contributing to our understanding of why elderly citizens are often targeted successfully by criminals.