As digital fraud continues to grow across the country, senior citizens are becoming one of the most vulnerable groups targeted by cybercriminals. Fraudsters are taking advantage of their trust, limited digital awareness and social isolation to steal savings through fake customer care calls, impersonation of government officials, fraudulent investment schemes and phishing links.
Cybercrime officials said elderly people are often specifically targeted because scammers believe they are less familiar with changing online fraud techniques and digital banking security. Victims are frequently persuaded to share OTPs, banking credentials or transfer money under the pretext of KYC verification, pension updates or high-return investment opportunities.
In several cases, fraudsters also exploit emotions by pretending to be relatives or officials dealing with emergency situations.
The latest NCRB data shows that crimes against senior citizens increased by nearly 17% across India in 2024 compared to the previous year. Telangana recorded an even sharper rise of around 35%, with cheating, forgery, financial fraud and cybercrime making up a significant share of offences involving elderly victims.
Hemanshu Jain, Director of Khyaal Foundation, 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 also said, “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 importance of digital awareness, he added that the organisation has been conducting programmes to improve digital confidence among elderly citizens. The foundation currently works with more than 4 million senior citizens across the country and regularly provides guidance on safe digital practices.
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