Digital Deception and the Aging Mind: A Psychological Analysis of Online Fraud Targeting Older Adults

The rise of internet connectivity among older adults has brought both enrichment and exposure to new forms of exploitation. Online fraud targeting the elderly is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional phenomenon influenced by cognitive, emotional, and social factors. Age-related changes in decision-making processes, coupled with increased social isolation and trust tendencies, heighten vulnerability to digital deception. This article offers a psychological and behavioral analysis of elder-targeted cyber scams, integrating insights from recent empirical and theoretical work. The discussion considers how aggressive digital persuasion tactics often blur the line between marketing and manipulation, disproportionately affecting older individuals. Recent studies have further shown how scam techniques exploit heuristics and cognitive decline, particularly in contexts where ethical boundaries are weakly enforced. By synthesizing literature across psychology, digital communication, and aging studies, this paper aims to illuminate mechanisms of vulnerability and offer policy-relevant recommendations for safeguarding older populations online.