Why older adults are at higher risk of cybercrime?

The recent report from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) showed that older adults (those 60 and older) are being hit particularly hard by scams and fraud, and lose more money on average than younger victims.

Older adults often have more savings or retirement funds, losing even one large‐scale scam can wipe out a major portion of their assets, making the impact more “catastrophic.”

These reports almost certainly underestimate the true impact: the FBI notes that only about half of all complaints to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) include the victim’s age.

Older adults are at higher risk of online fraud and cybercrime not because of age itself, but because of a combination of psychological, social, cognitive, and technological factors that criminals deliberately exploit:

• Lower digital confidence. Many older adults did not grow up with modern technology and may feel uncertain when using computers, smartphones, or online services.

• Higher trust in authority. Seniors are more likely to trust people who claim to be from banks, government agencies, or tech companies — a vulnerability scammers exploit.

• Politeness and social norms. Older adults are less likely to hang up on someone or question an unfamiliar caller, increasing exposure to manipulation.

• Social isolation and loneliness. Scammers take advantage of individuals who may feel alone or disconnected by using emotional manipulation, especially in romance or “grandparent” scams.

• Age-related cognitive changes. Slower processing speed, memory lapses, or difficulty multitasking can make it harder to detect fast-moving or complex scams.

• Higher financial stability. Older adults often have savings, retirement funds, or home equity, making them appealing targets for high-value fraud.

• Persistent targeting by criminals. Scammers deliberately aim at seniors because they assume they are less tech-savvy and more financially secure.