Financial Cyber-Fraud Tactics Targeting Elderly Victims in Delhi: A Secondary Data Based Sociological Study

Abstract

The rapid growth of digital financial services has undoubtedly made everyday transactions more convenient and accessible. But this growth has also made older people more likely to fall for cyber-related financial scams. Adopting a sociological perspective, this study explores the nature and impact of financial cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Delhi, drawing upon empirical research, government records, and policy analyses. The findings reveal that social engineering remains the most common method used to commit such frauds, alongside phishing, vishing, SIM-swap attacks, QR code manipulation, and UPI-based scams. Beyond limited levels of digital literacy, the study identifies age-related factors such as trust, social isolation, and structural inequalities embedded within India’s rapid digitization process as key contributors to seniors’ vulnerability to cyber fraud. The research also highlights significant underreporting of these crimes in Delhi, which can be largely attributed to inconsistent institutional responses and limited awareness of existing reporting mechanisms. Importantly, the consequences of cyber fraud extend well beyond financial loss, leading to reduced digital participation, diminished autonomy, and considerable psychological distress among older victims.

The study concludes that age-sensitive interventions are essential to ensure the safe and equitable participation of senior citizens in India’s evolving digital financial ecosystem. Such interventions should include inclusive technology design, targeted digital and financial literacy programs, regulatory reforms, and accessible as well as responsive reporting and redressal mechanisms.