Digital scams are too rife to be overlooked, especially since they affect older generations
Digital scams disproportionately affect older generations (Image: Getty)
Across the UK, older people are facing a growing threat that too often goes unrecognised in policy circles and corporate boardrooms: digital scams. As more services and communications move online, so too do the risks. Scammers are evolving fast, using increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud some of the most vulnerable in society. Take 92-year-old Eileen from Surrey. She has lost count of the number of con attempts she has endured.
Some come through the phone – a caller pretending to be from her bank, urging her to “verify” her details. Others arrive in emails, falsely warning that her pension account has been compromised or enticing her with too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities. She’s even had text messages telling her she’s won prizes for competitions she never entered. These fraudulent messages come almost daily, leaving her anxious and fearful of every incoming call or notification.
Sadly, Eileen’s story is far from unique – and her experience captures the lived reality of many older people navigating a digital world that is not built with their safety in mind. The latest findings from our New Ageing Index paint a stark picture of a crisis that disproportionately affects older generations. These frauds are not only robbing people of their savings, they are also eroding trust, damaging mental health, and leaving victims isolated and afraid. And the problem is growing.
Some 80% of UK adults now believe the increasing digitalisation of society is putting people at greater risk of financial scams. Among 66-and-overs, it rises to 86%. Of 18 to 34-yearolds, 76% share this concern, but the heightened anxiety among older people shows how disproportionately they are affected.
The prevalence of older victims is worrying. One in eight people aged 66 or over say they’ve been the victim of a digital scam. And across all age groups, around one in seven people report having lost between £1,000 and £5,000 to scammers – a significant blow to many households and a devastating one for those on fixed incomes in later life. The emotional toll is just as damaging. Eileen describes a growing fear of interacting with technology – a fear that limits her independence and undermines her confidence. This erosion of trust, in devices, in services and in others, is perhaps one of the most overlooked consequences of these crimes.
Yet despite this, the response remains sluggish. Banks and financial institutions have introduced fraud detection measures, but too often these are one-size-fits-all solutions that fail to recognise the unique behaviours and needs of older customers. What’s more, they frequently place the onus on individuals to spot the scam and avoid the trap – a tough ask when scammers are trained to deceive and manipulate.
Tech companies are also falling short. Social media platforms, search engines and messaging apps continue to host fraudulent adverts and messages that lure people into fake competitions, phishing schemes and investment scams. Despite improvements, moderation systems are still letting through far too much harmful content. Public opinion is clear – it’s time for action.
A striking 85% of UK adults say that banks and financial institutions have a duty to do more to protect people. Among family carers, often the frontline defenders for older relatives, this rises to 93%. There is a real appetite for better protection and more tailored support. But the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with companies.
Successive governments have failed to tackle the issue of digital scams. Too often, fraud is treated as a minor inconvenience, rather than the national crisis it has become. The Government must not only drive better regulation for tech and banking, but also invest in digital literacy and scam prevention campaigns, targeted at those most at risk.
Older people have contributed to society for decades. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they can live without the constant fear of being exploited. Banks and tech giants must implement smarter and more bespoke safeguards.
Meanwhile, Labour must legislate with urgency, or the crucial voting bloc which is pensioners will turn elsewhere. The digital revolution has brought as many new threats as it has benefits. The least we can do is ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are not left to fight these battles alone. It is time for coordinated, meaningful action because Eileen, and millions like her, deserve better.
