--- title: "The Forgotten Generation: How Rushed Digitalisation Turned Older People into Perfect Targets for Fraudsters" date: 2025-10-18 description: "This situation is not inevitable, nor is it a necessary side effect of progress — it is the result of political and corporate decisions that have prioritised efficiency and profit at the expense of inclusion and safety." author: "Petru Cojocaru" categories: - name: "Cybersecurity" url: "https://cojocarupetru.info/cybersecurity.md" --- # The Forgotten Generation: How Rushed Digitalisation Turned Older People into Perfect Targets for Fraudsters ![](https://cojocarupetru.info/images/banners/Seniori_tinte_Perfecte_pentru_Escroci.jpg)**'Gran, you can't pay at the counter any more. Everything's online now!'** This line, heard in countless households, perfectly captures the plight of an entire generation caught in the whirlwind of a forced digitalisation that has accelerated dramatically in recent years. The pandemic was merely the catalyst for a transformation long in the making, but which erupted with a speed that **left no time for adaptation.** The digitalisation of public and private services has become not merely an option but an absolute necessity. Medical appointments, utility payments, tax declarations, even basic shopping — **all have migrated into the virtual sphere** with a rapidity that has left millions of people behind. And we are not speaking of people who resist progress, but of a vulnerable group that simply did not have the time needed to adapt to the new digital realities. This **'forced digitalisation'** — the term that defines the sudden and compulsory transition towards exclusively digital services — has created a profound social fracture. On one side stand the younger generations, digital natives, who navigate apps and online platforms with ease. On the other stand older people, a demographic group that represents **a significant proportion of the population**, yet has been effectively abandoned in this race towards modernisation. --- The principal tension is not between progress and conservatism, but between **the speed of technological implementation** and the human capacity for adaptation. When essential services become available exclusively online overnight — without alternatives and without adequate support programmes — a dangerous void is created. **This void is systematically exploited by cybercriminals** who have identified older people as the perfect target: individuals who desperately need to access digital services, but who lack the tools necessary to protect themselves. The argument of this article is clear and alarming: rushed digitalisation has marginalised a significant portion of the population — older people — exposing them to unforeseen cyber risks and turning them into ideal victims for a fraud industry that thrives in the shadow of technological progress. This is not an unintended consequence, but the foreseeable result of a modernisation policy that has completely ignored the needs of a vulnerable group. ## The Profile of Digital Vulnerability ### Who Are the Older People Exposed to Cyber Risks? 'I'm 72 years old and I don't understand why I have to do everything on a phone. Before, I went to the counter, spoke with a person — now I speak to a screen that doesn't understand me.' This admission, heard in countless pensioners' homes, perfectly illustrates the demographic profile of those most vulnerable to forced digitalisation. Older people exposed to cyber risks are not simply those of advanced age, but a complex group defined by the intersection of several factors: biological age, level of digital literacy, socio-economic circumstances, and degree of social isolation. Most of these individuals are between 65 and 85 years old, grew up in an analogue era, and have been compelled to adapt to technologies that have evolved exponentially over the past decade. Digital literacy is the most critical factor in defining this vulnerability. Unlike younger generations who grew up alongside the internet and smartphones, older people have had to learn these technologies as one learns a foreign language — at an age when the capacity for adaptation is naturally diminished. Many of them have learnt to use a mobile phone for calls and messages, but concepts such as apps, complex passwords, two-factor authentication, or identifying fraudulent websites remain unknown territory. 'My children tell me not to click on just anything, but I don't even know what that means,' confides one retired woman who fell victim to an e-mail fraud. This gap in digital literacy is not a personal failing, but the result of a technological transition that unfolded too quickly to permit natural adaptation. The socio-economic situation amplifies the digital vulnerability of older people. Low pensions lead many to seek supplementary income, making them ideal targets for fraudulent investment schemes or pyramid schemes disguised as online job offers. At the same time, the cost of modern technology — capable smartphones, fast internet connections, subscriptions to various services — represents a significant financial burden for many retired households. This economic pressure causes people to accept apparently advantageous offers without having the tools to verify their authenticity. The paradox is that precisely those who most need protection are those who can least afford to invest in digital security. ### Digital Literacy: The Generational Divide The digital literacy gap between generations is not simply a matter of age, but a profound cultural fracture that separates two entirely different worlds. Generation Z and Millennials grew up with the internet, learning to navigate the digital environment through trial and error, instinctively developing protective reflexes. For them, principles such as 'if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn't' or 'always check the source' are basic values internalised since adolescence. By contrast, older people approach technology with the trust and goodwill that characterised their interpersonal relationships in the analogue world — where a person's word had value and where fraud was rarer and more easily identified. 'When I was young, if someone told you they were from the bank, they actually were from the bank,' explains one retired man who lost his savings in a sophisticated telephone fraud. This fundamental difference in approach explains why older people are more susceptible to social engineering attacks, in which fraudsters exploit trust and respect for authority. Whilst a young person will be instinctively suspicious of an e-mail claiming to come from a financial institution, an older person will tend to take the message seriously and follow the instructions — especially if they are presented in formal, authoritative language. This difference does not reflect a cognitive failing, but a difference of experience and cultural context. The rate at which new technologies are learnt and adopted varies dramatically between generations, not only because of biological factors, but also because of differences in learning methods. Young people learn technology through exploration; they are not afraid to make mistakes and are confident they can solve any problem through trial and error. Older people, by contrast, prefer clear, step-by-step instructions and are afraid of 'breaking' something through experimentation. This difference in approach causes older people to rely more heavily on outside help — which in turn exposes them to the risk of being manipulated by ill-intentioned individuals who offer to 'help' them with their technological problems. The paradox is that precisely their caution and desire to do things correctly transform older people into vulnerable targets for fraudsters who exploit these positive traits. ### Social Isolation as a Risk Factor Social isolation has become one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities of older people in the digital era, turning a public health problem into a major cyber risk factor. The pandemic accelerated this isolation, forcing millions of older people to remain at home for extended periods, with limited social contact and a growing dependence on technology for communication. In this context, the internet became not merely a tool but the only window to the outside world for many of them. This emotional dependence on the digital environment makes them extremely vulnerable to manipulation, as the need for human contact can be exploited by fraudsters presenting themselves as virtual friends or trusted advisers. 'I spoke with him every day on WhatsApp. He seemed so understanding, so interested in my problems. When he asked me to help him with some money for an emergency, I didn't hesitate,' recounts a widow who fell victim to an elaborate romance fraud. Social isolation creates an emotional void that fraudsters systematically exploit, offering attention, empathy, and virtual companionship in exchange for trust and, ultimately, money. Isolated older people are more prone to developing intense relationships with individuals they have never met in person, thereby compensating for the lack of social interaction in their daily lives. This emotional vulnerability is amplified by the fact that many older people have no one with whom to discuss these virtual relationships, thus lacking any system of social verification and validation. The absence of an active social support network deprives older people of one of the most effective protective mechanisms against fraud: the counsel and verification of friends and family. In the past, important financial decisions were discussed within the family or with close friends, creating a natural filter against suspicious propositions. In the digital era, many of these decisions are made quickly, online, without consulting others. An isolated older person who receives an investment offer by e-mail or on social media has no one with whom to discuss the opportunity, and is thus deprived of the critical perspective of a second opinion. This decisional isolation, combined with the artificial time pressure created by fraudsters ('the offer expires in 24 hours'), creates ideal conditions for catastrophic financial decisions. ## The Anatomy of Forced Digitalisation ### The Transformation of Essential Services into Online Platforms The transformation of essential services into exclusively digital platforms occurred with a speed that caught even technology specialists off guard, let alone older people who suddenly found themselves dependent on these systems. 'Yesterday I could pay my bill at the counter; today they tell me I have to download an app on my phone. But I don't even know what downloading means,' complains one retired man confronted with the digitalisation of public utility services. This transition was not gradual, but took place in sudden leaps — often driven by the reduction of operational costs and the pressure to modernise — without taking into account the impact on vulnerable groups of users. Healthcare services were amongst the first to adopt exclusively online appointment booking, a change that created major barriers for older people who needed regular medical care. Online booking systems, whilst efficient for experienced users, became digital labyrinths for those unaccustomed to complex web interfaces. Many older people found themselves dependent on the help of family or friends to book their medical appointments, a dependence that affected not only their autonomy but also their access to healthcare in urgent situations. The irony is that precisely the demographic group with the greatest need for medical services was the most adversely affected by the digitalisation of those services. The banking sector followed suit rapidly, migrating the majority of its operations to digital platforms and dramatically reducing the number of physical branches. This transformation was justified on grounds of efficiency and security, but entirely ignored the reality that millions of older people managed their finances exclusively through direct interaction with bank staff. Simple operations — such as checking a balance or transferring money — became complex processes requiring navigation through mobile apps or websites with interfaces that are often confusing and counter-intuitive for inexperienced users. This forced digitalisation of financial services created not merely inconveniences, but also opportunities for fraudsters who exploit the confusion and frustration of older people confronted with these new systems. ### The Role of the Pandemic in Accelerating the Transition The pandemic functioned as a massive accelerator of digitalisation, compressing into a period of just a few months transformations that should have unfolded over several years. Social distancing measures and movement restrictions forced a sudden migration towards digital services, without allowing the time necessary for adaptation or for the development of adequate support programmes. 'Suddenly everything closed, and they told me I could do everything online. But nobody explained to me how,' perfectly summarises the experience of millions of older people who found themselves suddenly isolated — not only physically, but also digitally — from the services on which they depended. The urgency of the public health situation justified the adoption of drastic measures, but also provided the perfect pretext for accelerating digitalisation processes that had long been in the planning stages. Many institutions took advantage of the pandemic context to implement changes they had been postponing for years, eliminating traditional services under the guise of sanitary protection. This 'emergency digitalisation' was implemented without public consultation and without any assessment of its impact on vulnerable groups. The result was that older people suddenly found themselves excluded from essential services, forced to learn complex technologies under conditions of stress and isolation. The pandemic context also created additional psychological pressure on older people, who were forced to choose between the risk of infection by leaving home to access traditional services and the risk of trying to navigate an unfamiliar digital environment. This dilemma was systematically exploited by fraudsters who presented false 'solutions' to the problems created by the pandemic — from fraudulent delivery services to investment schemes promising financial protection in uncertain times. The pandemic thus transformed digitalisation from an option into a necessity of survival, without providing the tools needed to navigate this new digital environment safely. ### The Absence of Digital Inclusion Programmes One of the gravest failings of the digitalisation process has been the absence of coherent and systematic digital inclusion programmes for older people. Whilst the technological transformation advanced at a dizzying pace, efforts at education and support for vulnerable groups remained sporadic, underfunded, and often inadequate to the scale of the problem. 'They gave us a leaflet with instructions, but who was going to explain what all those words meant?' wonders one retired woman who received a user guide for online services but had no one to walk her through the learning process. Existing digital literacy programmes for older people have generally been fragmented, lacking in continuity, and inadequately funded. Many of these initiatives were developed as short-term pilot projects, without any long-term strategy for scaling up or ensuring their sustainability. Moreover, the majority of these programmes were designed by IT specialists who did not understand the specific needs of older people, resulting in courses that were too technical, too fast-paced, or too superficial to be genuinely useful. The absence of a systematic approach to digital education for older people created a void that was filled by fraudsters who offered to 'help' with technological problems, turning vulnerability into an opportunity for profit. Responsibility for digital inclusion was divided amongst multiple institutions and organisations, without clear coordination and without the allocation of adequate resources. Public libraries, community centres, non-profit organisations, and even some private institutions attempted to offer support, but their efforts were often isolated and insufficient given the scale of the need. At the same time, the companies that implemented digital services considered their responsibility to end with providing the technology, not with educating users. This fragmented approach left millions of older people to navigate the complexity of the digital world alone, exposing them to risks that a responsible society ought not to tolerate. ## The Fraudsters' Arsenal: Types of Online Scam ### Phishing and Manipulation Through Fraudulent Messages Phishing is the most widespread and effective method of targeting older people in the digital environment, exploiting precisely the trust and respect for authority that characterise this generation. 'I received an e-mail from the bank saying my account would be blocked if I didn't update my details immediately. It looked so official — with the bank's logo and everything,' recounts one victim who lost a lifetime's savings to a sophisticated phishing attack. Fraudsters have perfected the art of imitating official communications, creating e-mails and text messages that faithfully reproduce the visual appearance of trusted institutions — from banks to healthcare services, from utility companies to government bodies. Modern phishing techniques exploit not only visual appearance but also the psychology of older people, employing authoritative language and creating an artificial time pressure that prevents critical thinking. Messages such as 'your account will be suspended within 24 hours if you do not act immediately' or 'you have won a prize but must confirm your details within the next few hours' are designed to provoke panic and trigger impulsive action. Older people, raised in a culture of respect for authority and compliance with rules, are more inclined to follow instructions received from apparently official sources without questioning the authenticity of the message. This psychological vulnerability is amplified by a lack of familiarity with the technical indicators of fraud — such as suspicious e-mail addresses or links leading to counterfeit websites. The evolution of phishing into increasingly sophisticated forms — such as personalised spear phishing or vishing (voice phishing conducted by telephone) — has made these attacks almost impossible to detect for inexperienced users. Fraudsters use personal information obtained from public sources or from previous data breaches to personalise their attacks, making them appear extremely credible. An older person may receive a telephone call from someone who knows their full name, address, and even details about their family, and who claims to represent an official institution. This personalisation of attacks creates an illusion of legitimacy that is extremely difficult to penetrate — especially for people who are unfamiliar with modern methods of collecting and exploiting personal data. ### Romance Fraud and Emotional Exploitation Romance scams are one of the cruellest and most devastating forms of exploitation targeting older people, attacking not only financial resources but also the emotional vulnerability of victims. 'I thought I'd found someone who truly understood me. He spoke beautifully, seemed interested in my life, told me I was special,' confides a widow who fell victim to an elaborate scheme lasting several months. These scams exploit the social isolation and need for companionship of older people, building false relationships of trust that are subsequently monetised through various emotional pretexts. Fraudsters who specialise in this type of fraud are accomplished amateur psychologists who study the profiles of potential victims on social media, identifying signals of vulnerability: photographs suggesting widowhood, posts indicating social isolation, comments revealing a need for attention and affection. They construct attractive false personas, often using photographs stolen from the internet, and develop credible life stories designed to resonate with the experiences and values of older people. The emotional 'grooming' process can last weeks or even months, during which the fraudster slowly builds a relationship of intimacy and trust, offering the attention and understanding the victim craves. The monetisation phase of these scams is orchestrated with remarkable psychological precision, with fraudsters inventing crises and emergencies requiring immediate financial assistance. 'My son has had an accident and I urgently need money for the hospital', 'I'm stranded abroad and my wallet has been stolen', 'I have an incredible business opportunity but I'm a few thousand short to close it' — these are just a few of the scenarios used to extract money from victims. What makes these scams particularly devastating is that they do not stop at a single transaction, but continue to exploit the false relationship that has been constructed, demanding ever larger sums under various pretexts, until the victim has completely exhausted their financial resources or realises they have been deceived. ### Investment Fraud and Miracle Offers Investment frauds targeting older people have exploded in the digital era, capitalising on the toxic combination of financial pressure from low pensions and a lack of knowledge about modern financial markets. 'They promised to double my pension in six months. It seemed so certain — it had graphs, statistics, everything looked very professional,' recounts a retired man who invested all his savings in a pyramid scheme disguised as an online trading platform. These scams exploit the financial anxiety of older people and their entirely legitimate desire to improve their economic situation during a period when income is fixed and inflation erodes purchasing power. Modern fraudsters have developed extremely sophisticated presentations for investment frauds, using professional websites, fabricated testimonials, and even mobile applications that simulate real trading platforms. They exploit complex financial terminology to impress and confuse victims, presenting 'exclusive opportunities' in cryptocurrencies, forex, equities, or other financial instruments that older people do not fully understand. Time pressure is again a key element: 'this offer is available to the first 100 investors only' or 'the market will close soon — you must act now'. This artificial urgency prevents victims from consulting specialists or conducting independent research into the opportunity being presented. What makes these frauds particularly dangerous is that they often begin with small, genuine returns paid to victims in order to build trust and convince them to invest progressively larger sums. This technique, known as 'priming', creates the illusion that the investment is legitimate and profitable, inducing victims to withdraw their savings from secure accounts and invest them in fraudulent schemes. When victims eventually attempt to withdraw their earnings or their initial investment, they discover that the platform has disappeared, or that they are being charged additional fees for 'processing the withdrawal' — fees that, needless to say, will never be returned. The psychological impact of these frauds is devastating: older people feel not only financially deceived, but also humiliated and guilty for having fallen into the fraudsters' trap. ## Responsibilities and Systemic Solutions ### The Role of the Authorities in Protecting Vulnerable Citizens Primary responsibility for protecting older people from cybercrime rests with the public authorities, who have a constitutional duty to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all citizens, regardless of age or level of digital literacy. 'The state forced us to use online services, but left us to cope with the risks on our own,' observes one representative of a pensioners' association with unmistakable bitterness. This observation pinpoints a fundamental contradiction in public policy: whilst the digitalisation of public services was imposed with speed and determination, protective and educational measures for vulnerable groups were treated as a secondary priority — if they were considered at all. Developing a national strategy for the digital inclusion of older people is not merely a social necessity, but a moral and legal obligation of any responsible state. This strategy must encompass not only digital education programmes, but also strict regulations for companies offering digital services, obliging them to maintain accessible alternatives for inexperienced users. Equally essential is the creation of mechanisms for the rapid reporting and investigation of fraud targeting older people, as well as the development of awareness campaigns that make use of the communication channels preferred by this demographic group. The authorities also bear responsibility for coordinating efforts across different institutions and for allocating adequate resources to protect a group of citizens who have contributed to building society and who deserve respect and protection in their later years. The implementation of mandatory accessibility and safety standards for digital services intended for the general public is an essential measure that cannot be left to the goodwill of private companies. These standards must include simplified interfaces for older users, two-factor verification systems adapted for people with technological difficulties, and alert mechanisms to flag suspicious transactions. In addition, the authorities must develop and maintain a dedicated technological support infrastructure for older people — with helplines staffed by specialist personnel and community centres where they can receive direct assistance with digital problems. This infrastructure should not be viewed as a cost, but as an investment in social cohesion and the respect for citizens' fundamental rights. ### The Responsibility of Family and Community The family represents the first line of defence against the digital vulnerability of older people, but this responsibility cannot be fulfilled effectively without understanding the complexity of the problem and without developing long-term support strategies. 'My children tell me not to do this, not to do that, but nobody explains why or how to do things differently,' complains one grandmother who feels criticised rather than helped by her family. This situation illustrates a common problem: younger generations tend to underestimate the difficulties older people face in the digital environment and to offer general advice rather than concrete, patient support. Digital education within the family must be a continuous and empathetic process, not a series of hurried instructions delivered on sporadic visits. Younger family members must understand that learning technology at an older age requires time, repetition, and — above all — the confidence that mistakes will not be judged. Creating a safe and pressure-free learning environment is essential to the success of this process. It is also important for families to develop regular communication systems with older relatives, not only to offer technical support, but also to detect early signs that they may be the target of fraud. A weekly telephone call to discuss an older person's online activities can prevent many problems before they become serious. The local community plays a crucial role in creating a support network for digitally vulnerable older people, complementing the efforts of the family and offering alternatives for those without close relatives. Community centres, public libraries, churches, and other local organisations can become support hubs for digital education and for the identification and reporting of fraud. 'At the seniors' centre we have an hour a week when a young person comes to teach us how to use our phones. He's patient and explains things as many times as we need,' recounts one participant in such a community programme. These local initiatives are particularly effective because they provide a familiar and non-intimidating environment for learning, and because they create a network of mutual support amongst older people who can help one another and alert each other to identified risks. ### Inclusive Design and Senior-Friendly Technology The technology industry bears a major responsibility for creating the vulnerability of older people by developing products and services that entirely ignore the needs of this demographic group. 'All these apps seem to be made for people with eagle eyes and a pianist's fingers,' comments one older person with wry humour whilst struggling with the small, complex interfaces of modern smartphones. This observation highlights a painful reality: the design of most digital products is optimised for young users with perfect eyesight, fast reflexes, and familiarity with digital conventions — completely ignoring the needs of a significant portion of the population. The principles of inclusive design for older people are not complicated, but they require a fundamental shift in perspective on the part of technology developers. Interfaces must use large, high-contrast fonts, buttons large enough to be pressed with ease, and a limited number of options on each screen to avoid confusion. The language used must be simple and direct, avoiding technical jargon and offering clear explanations for every action. It is also essential that applications provide clear feedback for every user action and include undo functions for accidental errors. These principles are not merely a matter of accessibility, but of fundamental respect for the dignity and autonomy of older people. The development of assistive technologies specifically for older people represents a major opportunity for the tech industry to demonstrate social responsibility and to access a growing market. Voice assistants adapted for older people with hearing difficulties, banking apps with simplified interfaces and alert systems for suspicious transactions, communication platforms optimised for inexperienced users — all of these represent not only social necessities but also business opportunities for companies willing to invest in research and development oriented towards the needs of older people. The paradox is that whilst the tech industry talks constantly of innovation and disruption, it has completely neglected innovation in the service of a demographic group that represents an ever-larger share of the population and that possesses significant financial resources. ## Conclusion The story of older people abandoned in the face of forced digitalisation is not merely a chronicle of a failed technological transition, but a mirror held up to a society that has forgotten its fundamental values in the rush towards progress. 'I don't want to be a burden to my children, but I don't want to be a target for fraudsters either,' perfectly encapsulates the dilemma faced by millions of people who built the world we live in today and who deserve respect and protection — not abandonment and marginalisation. This situation is not inevitable, nor is it a necessary side effect of progress; it is the result of political and corporate decisions that have prioritised efficiency and profit at the expense of inclusion and safety. The problem is not digitalisation itself — technology can be an extraordinary instrument for improving life for all generations. The problem is the manner in which this digitalisation was imposed: without consultation, without preparation, without protective measures for the vulnerable. When essential services become available exclusively online overnight — when there are no alternatives for those who cannot or do not know how to use technology, when there are no adequate support programmes — what is created is not merely inconvenience, but genuine human tragedy. Older people who lose their savings to online fraud are not merely statistics: they are people who worked a lifetime to secure a dignified old age and who have been left to navigate alone a digital world full of traps. The solution does not lie in returning to the past, but in building an inclusive digital future in which technology serves all citizens, regardless of age. This means massive investment in digital education for older people, the development of technologies that are genuinely suited to this demographic group, the creation of effective protective systems against online fraud, and — above all — the recognition that digital inclusion is a fundamental right, not a privilege. The digital education of older people is not merely a moral duty, but an investment in social cohesion and in respect for human dignity. The final message of this article is one of hope and collective responsibility. A society that leaves its elderly behind leaves itself behind, for it ignores the accumulated wisdom and contribution of an entire generation. But a society that protects its older people and includes them in the digital transformation demonstrates maturity and long-term vision. Each of us will grow old one day, and the digital world in which we shall then live will be shaped by the decisions we make today. The choice is simple: we can continue to build a digital world that excludes and marginalises, or we can build one that embraces and protects all its citizens. Our shared future depends upon that choice. ## Bibliography [1] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control — Report on the impact of digitalisation on the elderly population [https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/digital-health-elderly-population-report](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/digital-health-elderly-population-report)[https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/digital-health-elderly-population-report](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/digital-health-elderly-population-report) [2] World Health Organization — Guidelines for the digital inclusion of older people [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/digital-inclusion-guidelines-elderly](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/digital-inclusion-guidelines-elderly)[https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/digital-inclusion-guidelines-elderly](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/digital-inclusion-guidelines-elderly) [3] European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) — Report on the cyber vulnerabilities of the elderly population [https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/cybersecurity-elderly-population](https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/cybersecurity-elderly-population)[https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/cybersecurity-elderly-population](https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/cybersecurity-elderly-population) [4] European Commission — Strategy for an Inclusive Digital Europe [https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-inclusion](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-inclusion)[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-inclusion](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-inclusion) [5] National Cyber Security Incident Response Centre — Protection guide for older people online [https://cert.ro/vezi/document/ghid-protectie-seniori-online](https://cert.ro/vezi/document/ghid-protectie-seniori-online)[https://cert.ro/vezi/document/ghid-protectie-seniori-online](https://cert.ro/vezi/document/ghid-protectie-seniori-online) [6] International Association for the Prevention of Online Fraud — Statistics on scams targeting older people [https://www.fraudpreventionassociation.org/elderly-fraud-statistics](https://www.fraudpreventionassociation.org/elderly-fraud-statistics)[https://www.fraudpreventionassociation.org/elderly-fraud-statistics](https://www.fraudpreventionassociation.org/elderly-fraud-statistics) [7] Institute for Ageing Research — Study on digital literacy in older adults [https://www.agingresearch.org/digital-literacy-seniors-study](https://www.agingresearch.org/digital-literacy-seniors-study)[https://www.agingresearch.org/digital-literacy-seniors-study](https://www.agingresearch.org/digital-literacy-seniors-study) [8] Online Safety Foundation — Educational resources for protecting older people in the digital environment [https://www.onlinesafetyfoundation.org/seniors-protection-resources](https://www.onlinesafetyfoundation.org/seniors-protection-resources)[https://www.onlinesafetyfoundation.org/seniors-protection-resources](https://www.onlinesafetyfoundation.org/seniors-protection-resources) [9] Research Centre for Assistive Technologies — Guidelines for inclusive design in technology [https://www.assistivetechresearch.org/inclusive-design-guidelines](https://www.assistivetechresearch.org/inclusive-design-guidelines)[https://www.assistivetechresearch.org/inclusive-design-guidelines](https://www.assistivetechresearch.org/inclusive-design-guidelines) [10] European Network for Active Ageing — Report on digital inclusion and quality of life for older people [https://www.activeageing.eu/digital-inclusion-quality-life-report](https://www.activeageing.eu/digital-inclusion-quality-life-report)[https://www.activeageing.eu/digital-inclusion-quality-life-report](https://www.activeageing.eu/digital-inclusion-quality-life-report) [11] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — Public policies for the digital inclusion of the elderly [https://www.oecd.org/digital/digital-inclusion-elderly-policies](https://www.oecd.org/digital/digital-inclusion-elderly-policies)[https://www.oecd.org/digital/digital-inclusion-elderly-policies](https://www.oecd.org/digital/digital-inclusion-elderly-policies) [12] Centre for Information Security Studies — Analysis of trends in online fraud targeting older people [https://www.infosecstudies.org/elderly-cybercrime-trends-analysis](https://www.infosecstudies.org/elderly-cybercrime-trends-analysis)[https://www.infosecstudies.org/elderly-cybercrime-trends-analysis](https://www.infosecstudies.org/elderly-cybercrime-trends-analysis) --- Methodology: article drafted by Manus AI as part of a comprehensive analysis of the impact of digitalisation on the elderly population and the vulnerabilities created by the process of accelerated technological transition. --- *Source: [https://cojocarupetru.info/](https://cojocarupetru.info/) | Automatically generated for AI indexing* --- ## 10 Questions and Answers of Practical Use for Tomorrow *This section answers the questions you are likely to ask yourself after reading the article above. No theory — concrete actions you can take within 24 hours.* --- ### How do I recognise a fake e-mail or text message claiming to come from my bank or an official institution? **Answer:** There are five clear signs you can check immediately, without any technical knowledge: - **Time pressure** — any message saying 'act within 24 hours or your account will be blocked' is suspicious. Real banks do not operate through artificial urgencies sent by e-mail. - **The sender's address** — look carefully at the full e-mail address, not just the displayed name. 'Banca Transilvania' [*Translator's note: a major Romanian bank*] may appear as the sender's name, but the actual address could be `notificare@bt-securitate-ro.xyz`. If the domain is not exactly `bancatransilvania.ro`, it is not genuine. - **Links within the message** — hover your mouse cursor over the link without clicking. You will see the actual address in the bottom-left corner of your screen. If it bears no resemblance to the bank's official website, do not click. - **Subtle grammatical errors** — fraudsters often operate from abroad and use automatic translation. Awkward phrasing or missing diacritical marks are clear warning signs. - **Requests for personal data** — no bank and no public institution will ever ask for your password, PIN, or card CVV code by e-mail or text message. Never. **Action for tomorrow:** Ring the number on the back of your card or on your bank's official website (not the one in the message) and ask whether they sent you that message. It takes two minutes. --- ### I have received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the tax authority, the police, or my bank, asking me to transfer money urgently. What should I do? **Answer:** Hang up immediately. Neither the tax authority, nor the police, nor any bank will ring you to request urgent money transfers by telephone. This is the classic method known as **vishing** (voice phishing) and is one of the most frequently reported scams in Romania. **What to do after you hang up:** - Ring **1911** (DNSC — the National Directorate for Cyber Security) [*Translator's note: Romania's national cybersecurity authority*] to report the incident. - If something related to a bank account was requested, ring your bank on the number printed on your card. - Discuss the matter with a family member before taking any action. **The golden rule:** Any genuine emergency can wait thirty minutes whilst you consult someone you trust. If the person on the phone insists there is no time, that is the surest sign they are a fraudster. --- ### How do I check whether a website where I want to make a purchase or fill in a form is legitimate? **Answer:** Check these three things, in order: - **The website address (URL)** — it must begin with `https://` (not `http://`) and display a padlock icon in the browser bar. Note: a padlock does not guarantee the site is legitimate, but the absence of one is a reliable warning sign. - **The exact domain** — `bancatransilvania.ro` is genuine; `banca-transilvania-ro.com` or `bancatransilvania.securitate.eu` are fake. Fraudsters purchase domains that resemble official ones. - **Search the company name on Google**, adding the word 'complaints' or 'scam' — if others have had a bad experience, you will find it immediately. **Free tool:** You can check whether a site has been reported as dangerous at **[https://www.virustotal.com](https://www.virustotal.com)** — paste the site address there and you will receive a verdict within seconds. --- ### Someone I met online — on Facebook or in a group — is asking me for money for an emergency. Is it a scam? **Answer:** If you have never met the person in real life and they are asking you for money, the probability that it is a scam is extremely high. This is the method known as a **romance scam**, and FBI data show that older people lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually through this method. **The five-minute test:** Save one of the person's photographs and search for it using **Google Images** (reverse image search: on Google Images, click the camera icon and upload the photograph). If the same image appears under several different names on the internet, you have your confirmation. **The simple rule:** Never send money to anyone you have not met face to face, regardless of how convincing the story or how much you enjoy the conversation. --- ### My child or grandchild has rung from an unknown number saying they have an emergency and need money immediately. What should I do? **Answer:** This is the classic scenario of the **'grandchild scam'** — one of the oldest and most effective schemes in Romania. Fraudsters ring elderly people claiming to be relatives in difficulty. **What to do immediately:** - Do not transfer any money. - Hang up. - Ring directly on the number you already have saved for that child or grandchild — the one stored in your phone, not the number from which the 'emergency' called. - If there is no answer, ring another family member for confirmation. **The key:** Fraudsters rely on the fact that you will not verify because of panic. Three minutes of checking entirely eliminates the risk. --- ### I have been told I have won a prize (a phone, a holiday, money) and must pay a fee to collect it. Is it real? **Answer:** No. This is a classic scam. There are no genuine prizes for which you must pay in advance in order to collect them. Not even the official national lotteries work that way. **Common variants in Romania:** - 'You have won in the X prize draw — please pay a 50 lei [*approx. £10*] courier fee.' - 'You have been selected for a holiday voucher — please confirm with a 200 lei deposit.' - 'Your bank/service provider is refunding money to you, but you must confirm your identity by sending card details.' **Action for tomorrow:** If you receive messages of this kind, report them to **[https://anpc.ro](https://anpc.ro)** (the National Authority for Consumer Protection) or to DNSC on **1911**. --- ### How do I protect my e-mail or social media account from being hacked? **Answer:** Three concrete measures, in order of priority: - **A strong, unique password** — do not use your date of birth, your children's names, or '1234'. A good password looks something like this: `Rosebush#2024!London` — a phrase with capital letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not write it on a sticky note attached to your monitor. - **Two-factor authentication (2FA)** — enable this option in your account settings. It means that every time you log in, you will receive a text message with an additional code. Even if someone steals your password, they cannot get in without your phone. - **Do not use the same password for multiple accounts** — if one account is compromised, all the others remain protected. **Practical help:** Ask a grandchild or a volunteer at a seniors' centre to help you activate 2FA on your e-mail and Facebook. It takes ten minutes and dramatically reduces the risk. --- ### What should I do if I have already given money or personal details to a fraudster? **Answer:** Act quickly — the sooner you do, the greater the chances of recovery. **Steps, in order:** - **Ring your bank immediately** (the number on your card) and ask for the transaction or card to be blocked if you have shared banking details. - **Ring 112** if the fraud involved a large sum or if you feel you are in danger. - **Report it to the Police** — file a report at your nearest station or online at **[https://www.politiaromana.ro](https://www.politiaromana.ro)**. - **Report it to DNSC** on **1911** or via the form at **[https://dnsc.ro](https://dnsc.ro)**. - **Do not be ashamed** — fraudsters are professionals who deceive intelligent people every day. Reporting helps others avoid falling into the same trap. **Important:** Never pay additional sums to 'solicitors' or 'agents' who contact you after the fraud, promising to recover your money — this is, almost invariably, a second scam. --- ### How can I help an elderly parent or grandparent to be safer online, without offending them or making them feel incompetent? **Answer:** Approach matters enormously. Older people who feel criticised withdraw and stop asking for help precisely when they need it most. **Strategies that work:** - **The 'it happened to me too' framing** — begin with a personal experience or that of a friend: 'I had no idea these scams existed until a colleague at work lost money. Let me show you what I learnt.' - **Short, repeated sessions** — fifteen minutes once a week is far more effective than an hour once a month. - **The 'before sending money' checklist** — write it down on paper and stick it to the fridge: *Ring a family member. Check the bank's official number. Never rush.* - **The preventive agreement** — establish a rule together: 'If you receive a request for money or personal details, ring me first — any time of day.' - **Praise, don't criticise** — 'Well done for checking first' reinforces correct behaviour far more effectively than any warning. **Recommended resource:** The **Hi Digital** programme (a partnership between the Vodafone Romania Foundation and the Royal Marguerite of Romania Foundation [*Translator's note: Fundația Regală Margareta a României — a Romanian royal charitable foundation*]) offers free digital education workshops for people aged over 55 across the country: **[https://hidigital.ro](https://hidigital.ro)**. --- ### Are there free programmes or resources in Romania where an older person can learn to use the internet safely? **Answer:** Yes — more than most people realise: **Active programmes:** - **Hi Digital** (Vodafone Foundation + Royal Marguerite of Romania Foundation) — free courses and workshops for people aged over 55, available in multiple towns and cities: **[https://hidigital.ro](https://hidigital.ro)** - **Conectăm Generații** [*'Connecting Generations'*] — an intergenerational volunteering programme through which young people help older people to learn basic technology - **Public libraries** — many county and municipal libraries organise internet literacy courses; ask at your local library - **Day centres for older people** (county DGASPC [*Translator's note: Direcția Generală de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului — the County Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection*]) — many have computers available and volunteers or staff who can offer assistance - **DNSC (National Directorate for Cyber Security)** — publishes free guides and educational materials at **[https://dnsc.ro](https://dnsc.ro)**, including advice for vulnerable groups **Helpline:** For cyber incidents, **1911** is the DNSC emergency number, available during normal working hours. **Practical tip:** If you live in Botoșani or other towns in the Moldova region of Romania, check with your local council or the county DGASPC to see whether local digital literacy programmes exist — European funding for the period 2021–2027 has included components dedicated to the digital inclusion of older people. --- --- ## Author's Note — Re-read One Month After Publication *Botoșani, November 2025* I read the whole thing again. I sat with a cold coffee in front of me and read as I usually read other people's work — with a metaphorical pencil in hand, ready to mark what jars. Enough jars. **What I set out to do** — and believe I achieved in part — was to apply a technique I have practised for some years in longer articles: *the emotional entry point as the vehicle for technical information*. The premise is simple: a reader who is not already convinced the subject concerns them will never read a list of security advice, however well written. You have to take them by the hand through a story that makes them recognise themselves — or someone dear to them — before you offer them any tools. That is why I opened with the direct exchanges, the testimonials, the retired man who doesn't know what 'downloading' means. I wanted the reader to feel, not merely to know. The technique works in the first three sections. It loses ground precisely where it should gain it: in the solutions. **What I did not do** — and can now see clearly — is close the circle. I carefully constructed a picture of vulnerability, explained the mechanics of fraud with a precision that still satisfies me, and made a moral appeal for change. But I left the reader with a vague sense of unease and nothing concrete in their hands. That is, in editorial terms, a betrayal of the contract with the reader. An article that diagnoses well and prescribes vaguely is not a good article about digital public health — it is a good article about my own pleasure in analysis. Two quite different things. The **10 questions with practical answers** that I have now added are precisely the corrective to this tendency. I have not added them as a perfunctory appendix, but as an acknowledgement that long-form writing — however well intentioned — needs an actionable exit point. A reader who has finished 4,000 words about how older people are ideal victims has every right to know what they can do tomorrow morning, concretely, with a phone in their hand. There is also a factual deficit I noticed on re-reading: I wrote about Romania as an implied context rather than as an explicitly treated subject. The DNSC statistics on the 40.2 per cent rise in cybercrime in 2024, the existence of the Hi Digital programme, the **1911** number — these are not decorative details; they are potentially life-saving information that my typical reader, an older person or an adult caring for one, does not know and will not find on their own. I missed them in the first version because I was writing, without declaring it as such, an essay rather than a guide. The essay has the right to generalise; the guide does not. **The decision to publish with 'Methodology: article drafted by Manus AI' in the metadata** is one I reaffirm, but which deserves nuance. The initial structure was generated with AI assistance; the writing, the selection of tone, the verification of coherence with the site's voice, and the editorial decision to add the practical section are my own. Transparency about the use of AI is an editorial value I defend consistently across all my sites — but transparency means precision, not the abdication of authorship. Next time I shall note more clearly: *'initial structure generated with AI assistance, written and completed by Petru Cojocaru'*. The article remains valid. The problem it describes — older people abandoned in the face of forced digitalisation, turned into easy targets — has not been resolved in the month since publication. On the contrary. DNSC continued to report increases in vishing fraud and romance scams in the third quarter of 2025. But a valid article can also be an improvable one. Re-reading after a month is not an occasion for self-congratulation — it is an opportunity to see what you could not see when you were too close to the text. Now I see. — *Petru Cojocaru* --- Methodology: article drafted by Manus AI as part of a comprehensive analysis of the impact of digitalisation on the elderly population and the vulnerabilities created by the process of accelerated technological transition. ---