- Elderly adults have developed an increased fear and anxiety regarding fraud, in particular those who are lonely or have experienced crime within the past five years
- Fear of fraud may represent a 'hidden epidemic' affecting a significant number of elderly adults, particularly women aged over 75 years old
- Any measures to raise awareness must be tested to ensure they're effective and don't cause unnecessary fear
New research from the University of Portsmouth has found that a significant number of older adults in the UK are affected by fear of fraud, especially those who live alone or have previously been victims of crime.
Published in the Security Journal , the paper draws on insights from 2,000 participants, predominantly women experiencing some degree of loneliness as part of a project aimed at strengthening resilience to fraud and scams.
The study, funded by a UK charity, found that 64 per cent of respondents faced at least one attempted fraud in the past six months, with one-third experiencing frequent attacks.
The findings also revealed that telephones were the main channel used in these scams, accounting for over three-quarters of attempts, and nearly half of these involved landline phones - a preferred method for targeting older adults. Other methods included text messages or contact via mobile phones.
This research also found that fear and anxiety about fraud were major concerns for many respondents. The study underscored the severity of the issue, as many elderly adults were too anxious to participate in the survey because the topic itself was too upsetting for them.
One respondent clearly recognised how common the scams are, saying: "I am in my 90s and live on my own and get very lonely at times. I do worry about getting scammed and robbed, but I am aware of those problems."
Another participant stressed the concern: "As a person with sight loss, I feel vulnerable to scams of all kinds, though I wouldn't describe myself as over-cautious. I get a trusted friend to do any internet transactions for me."
The study also found that fear of fraud may represent a 'hidden epidemic' - a widespread yet largely unrecognised issue affecting many older adults, though the exact scale of the problem remains uncertain. One interviewee explained: "When refusing to divulge my details on the phone to someone wanting to 'confirm' my bank details, they become antagonistic and aggressive. This leaves me shaking and doubting myself - I just put the phone down. It is very upsetting being a victim of such bullying. I don't want to think of myself as a victim just because I am elderly."
Professor Mark Button , Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Older women who live alone are often far more anxious about fraud than other community groups. This fear can come from victimisation, fraud attempts from suspicious phone calls, and it can also be heightened by media coverage and awareness campaigns.
"Seeing a story on TV about someone their age losing their savings to a scam can have a real impact. For some, it leads to avoiding phone calls, even from loved ones, or staying offline altogether out of fear."
Moving forward, the study urges more research into older adults - especially those who are disadvantaged - to understand how widespread the problem is and the key causes of fraud fear. While researchers highlight the need to raise awareness about fraud, they acknowledge this could increase anxiety and fear in vulnerable individuals.
"What's crucial is that those working with older adults often have good intentions - they aim to protect them from fraud," added Professor Button. "However, they may unintentionally create new issues by instilling excessive fear, which can be just as damaging."
The study calls for increased support for at-risk individuals, particularly those living alone or recent victims, through one-on-one assistance and practical fraud prevention guidance to strengthen their resilience and ease their fears.
The findings underscore the urgent need for greater awareness but stress that any measures should be tested and evaluated to ensure they are effective and do not create unnecessary stress or worry.
This builds on previous research led by Professor Button, which examined how older adults in the UK, especially those aged 75 and over, are facing an unprecedented surge in attempted telephone fraud.
