Các thủ đoạn lừa đảo nhắm vào người cao tuổi - Chongluadao.vn

Currently, scammers are taking advantage of the elderly's anxiety about illness, their desire for extra income, and their kindness to carry out many sophisticated scams. In addition to online scams, direct scams at home by impersonating public employees and officials are also one of the most dangerous scams against the elderly.

Article table of contents hide

1. Why are the elderly becoming targets of scams?

1.1. Financial and lifestyle characteristics

1.2. Technological barriers

1.3. Behavioral and psychological barriers

2. Common scams targeting the elderly.

3. Preventing fraud against the elderly.

Why are the elderly becoming targets of scams?

According to international cybersecurity agencies and organizations, the elderly are becoming a frequent target of high-tech fraud. This phenomenon does not stem from cognitive decline, but rather from disparities in access to information and unique psychosocial characteristics.

Below is a detailed analysis of the main groups of causes:

Financial and lifestyle characteristics

High liquidityElderly people often possess surplus funds (pensions, retirement savings, gifts from children and grandchildren) in the form of cash or bank deposits. These are highly liquid assets, easily convertible or transferred, making them attractive economic targets for criminals.
Social isolationA large proportion of elderly people live alone or lack regular interaction with their children and grandchildren due to the fast-paced modern lifestyle. Loneliness creates a psychological need for conversation and sharing. Criminals exploit this vulnerability to approach and build false trust (social engineering) before committing fraud.

Technological barriers

Digital skills gapElderly people often have difficulty accessing and understanding new concepts such as Smart Banking, OTP codes, biometrics, or identifying fake websites/applications.
Limited ability to verify information.Unlike younger generations who are accustomed to cross-checking information, older adults tend to automatically trust information that appears on electronic devices or from people who claim to be "authorities.".

Behavioral and psychological barriers

The psychology of "fear of trouble" and "fear of being judged"“:
Before being scammed: Victims often try to solve problems online themselves instead of asking their children or grandchildren for advice, due to a fear of being seen as outdated, senile, or bothering their relatives.
After being scammed: Feelings of guilt and shame cause victims to conceal the incident and not report it to the police. This leads to a "criminal dark zone" – where criminals continue to operate undetected.
Psychology of obedience to authorityThe older generation often has a high degree of respect and fear for law enforcement agencies (police, courts, prosecutors). Scenarios involving impersonating authorities and threatening arrest exploit this psychological vulnerability, causing panic and immediate loss of judgment.

Tại sao người cao tuổi lại là mục tiêu của lừa đảo trực tuyến

The reality is that the vulnerability of the elderly to scams is not an unchangeable fate. The notion that the elderly "cannot access technology" or "lack the ability to defend themselves" are prejudices that need to be dispelled in public awareness campaigns.

Elderly people possess inherent life experience and caution. If equipped with the right knowledge, they are fully capable of protecting their own property and personal information.

Common scams targeting the elderly.

1. Voice Phishing/Vishing

This is the most direct and common form of psychological attack. Scammers use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services to spoof phone numbers, combined with social engineering techniques to create "shock calls" that cause victims to panic and lose their rational control.

2. Scams via text messages, social media, and malicious links.

This is a scam that takes advantage of the elderly's lack of knowledge about cybersecurity and simple internet usage habits. The scammers attack through daily communication channels such as SMS, Zalo, Facebook Messenger.

3. Direct fraud at the place of residence (Impersonating a public service worker/official)

Unlike online fraud, this form carries double risks: loss of property and direct threat to the security and physical safety of the elderly in their own homes.

4. Financial, investment, and health scams (Multi-level marketing schemes)

These tactics target the two biggest psychological vulnerabilities of the elderly: the fear of illness and the desire for additional income to avoid depending on their children and grandchildren.

5. Fraud under the guise of charity, religion, and social welfare.

This tactic is particularly insidious because it exploits the benevolent nature, the desire to accumulate merit, and the empathy of the elderly. The perpetrators turn the victims' kindness into a tool for their own gain.

Preventing fraud against the elderly.

To build a strong psychological "firewall" for the elderly, international cybersecurity and banking experts have compiled a simple but effective set of action guidelines: The "5 Don'ts - 3 Dos" Code of Conduct“. This serves as a guide to help elderly people remain calm and handle any doubtful situation correctly.