Abu Dhabi: Two cybersecurity experts warned of increasingly sophisticated electronic fraud targeting the savings of elderly people, stressing that the greatest danger lies in fraudsters shifting their focus from hacking devices and systems to exploiting human trust and manipulating emotions.
They said such psychological techniques can deceive anyone, regardless of their educational background.
The experts explained that criminal groups exploit some elderly people’s unfamiliarity with rapidly evolving banking applications and digital technology. Fraudsters are also using artificial intelligence to imitate the voices of children and relatives and persuade victims to transfer money without verifying the request.
The Ministry of Interior said elderly people are among the groups targeted by cyber fraudsters, who exploit their trust in official authorities and willingness to help family members.
It said advances in artificial intelligence have enabled fraudsters to imitate the voices of relatives using short audio recordings, which can then be used to deceive victims into transferring money or disclosing personal information.
Cybersecurity expert Engineer Ahmed Al Zarouni explained that scammers target elderly people for several reasons, including some people’s limited knowledge of modern electronic fraud techniques amid the rapid development of digital technology, social media and banking applications. Scammers also seek to exploit their trust.
He stressed that elderly people are not less aware or less capable of making decisions, but may be less familiar with evolving fraud techniques.
“The fraudster does not rely only on hacking devices, but relies more on hacking people’s trust and manipulating their feelings, methods that can victimise anyone, regardless of their age or educational level,” he said.
Al Zarouni outlined some of the most prominent forms of electronic fraud targeting elderly people. Among the most common are fraudulent calls and messages impersonating official bodies or banks. The scammer may claim there is a problem with a bank account or that customer information needs to be updated before asking for bank card details or a verification code sent to the victim’s phone.
Another common method involves sending fake links through text messages or WhatsApp, claiming there is a postal delivery, traffic fine or financial reward. The aim is to persuade victims to enter their personal and banking information.
“We are witnessing an evolution in fraud operations using artificial intelligence, where it has become possible to imitate people’s voices and create fake audio and video clips. An elderly person may receive a call that sounds like it is from his son or a relative asking for an urgent money transfer as a result of a problem or accident,” he said.
Al Zarouni added: “There is also investment fraud through promises of high and guaranteed returns, emotional fraud that relies on building fake relationships to gain trust, in addition to fraud through fake technical support, where the fraudster convinces the victim to install an application that allows him to remotely control the phone and access sensitive information.”
He warned that scams have become increasingly convincing, making it difficult to distinguish genuine messages and calls from fraudulent ones based solely on appearance or voice.
Al Zarouni stressed that protecting elderly people begins with continuous awareness campaigns delivered in simple language suited to their everyday use of technology. Family members should also help them recognise emerging fraud techniques.
He warned against sharing passwords, banking information or verification codes with anyone, even if the person claims to represent a bank or official authority.
He also cautioned against clicking unknown links, downloading applications from unofficial app stores or making financial decisions under pressure. Fraudsters, he said, often create a sense of fear or urgency to push victims into acting impulsively.
“If you receive a call from a family member requesting an urgent money transfer, you should end the call and contact them again via their known number to verify their identity, especially with the spread of voice imitation technologies using artificial intelligence,” he said.
He advised elderly people and their families to activate bank alerts and multi-factor authentication, regularly update phones and applications, set appropriate daily limits for financial transfers and seek assistance from a trusted family member when faced with an unusual request.
If fraud is suspected, Al Zarouni said the bank should be contacted immediately to deactivate the card or secure the account where necessary. The relevant security authorities should also be notified.
Digital shopping
Technical expert Abdul Nour Sami said elderly people may be particularly vulnerable to fraud for two reasons: their level of familiarity with rapidly changing technology and the tendency of scammers to exploit trust and emotions.
“The elderly are vulnerable to fraud due to two dimensions. First, the technical dimension and insufficient familiarity with technological innovations, so this group falls victim to elaborate and sophisticated frauds. This is normal for any group that outlives another, especially in light of the constantly changing and evolving nature of frauds. The other dimension is that this group is the most friendly and kind, so they fall victim to emotional frauds,” he said.
Sami said digital shopping is among the scams targeting elderly people. Fraudulent products may be promoted through paid online advertising, but after a purchase the product may not arrive or the customer may receive an item different from what was expected.
He said fraudulent campaigns can be designed specifically to appeal to elderly audiences, with scammers tailoring advertisements and content to familiar interests and styles.
“One of the most common methods is to steal the WhatsApp account of someone close to the elderly person, contact him, and claim that there is an emergency situation outside the country, for example, and then ask for a bank card or a money transfer, i.e., impersonating someone they know,” he said.
Sami warned that fraudsters could increasingly use deepfakes and voice manipulation to impersonate relatives, well-known figures or even a victim’s family doctor when requesting payments.
He said another technique involves a scammer contacting an elderly person and claiming to be a friend of their son or another relative who has been sent to collect money.
The scammer may use general information about the relative, such as the name of a school, workplace or area, to make the story appear credible.
Another method targets bill payments, including Salik, water and electricity charges or phone bills.
Sami said fraudsters could attempt to deceive the same victim twice. Following an initial payment, the scammer could call pretending to represent the victim’s bank, claim there has been a financial transaction requiring immediate action and seek approval for another transaction.
A ‘golden word’
Sami stressed that tackling such fraud requires coordinated efforts.
He said banks could provide services tailored to elderly customers, including additional verification mechanisms, priority hotline assistance and payment facilities for frequently used services such as telephone bills, road charges and parking, reducing the need to access payment links.
He warned that fraudsters continuously develop their techniques while awareness efforts may follow only after a particular type of scam has become widespread. Awareness campaigns can also be seasonal or intermittent.
Families therefore have an important role in helping elderly relatives, whether by remaining closely involved or adjusting their phone settings to reduce the risk of fraud.
“When educating the elderly, the approach must be appropriate, and they should not be blamed if they fall victim to fraud, and those around them should always be supportive of them,” he said.
Sami advised using a prepaid card for purchases through approved applications within the UAE to limit potential losses. Bills can also be linked to a bank account rather than paid through links.
Families can also agree on a “golden word” with an elderly relative to help verify the identity of children, grandchildren and other relatives who contact them.
The word should be known to relatives but not shared with strangers. In suspected impersonation cases involving friends or other people, Sami advised elderly people to contact a family member before taking any action.
“The family must be supportive and helpful to the elderly person, so that he can ask at his leisure,” he said.
Reliable spaces
The Ministry of Interior stressed the importance of raising awareness and involving elderly people in prevention efforts by providing trusted spaces where they can ask questions, share experiences and receive support. It also highlighted the importance of developing digital policies and services and launching educational campaigns in cooperation with elderly people.
During a session entitled “Protecting the Elderly in the Digital Age”, held as part of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, the ministry discussed cyber fraud risks facing elderly people and efforts to strengthen prevention and cooperation in combating such crimes.
The ministry said cyber fraud is connected to several transnational crimes, including human trafficking, and stressed the need for stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and financial institutions, as well as faster exchanges of information, evidence and financial data.
Shared responsibility
Cybersecurity expert Engineer Ahmed Al Zarouni stressed that protecting elderly people from electronic fraud is not solely their responsibility. It requires cooperation between families, financial institutions and organisations responsible for awareness and cybersecurity.
He called for a shift from traditional awareness campaigns focused mainly on warnings about suspicious links towards practical education that teaches elderly people how to identify fake calls, handle fraudulent messages and verify callers’ identities.
Al Zarouni urged families and other relevant parties not to leave elderly people to navigate the digital world alone.
He said spending even a few minutes educating and assisting elderly relatives could help protect savings accumulated over many years and spare them significant financial and psychological harm.