Senior Citizens Emerging as Prime Targets of Cybercriminals, Experts Stress Need for Stronger Digital Safety Skills

With nearly 7,000 cybercrime cases reported every day across India in 2024, senior citizens have emerged as the most vulnerable group, according to data from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. The Supreme Court recently highlighted that fraudsters have siphoned off more than ₹3,000 crore from victims—mostly elderly—through the alarming trend of ‘digital arrests’.

Amid this backdrop, the Silver Age Foundation for Elders organised a Masterclass on Cyber Safety for Elders in Bhubaneswar on Friday, drawing over 120 senior citizens from various parts of the city. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s Tech4Elders programme aimed at helping older adults confidently navigate the digital world.

The session marked the Foundation’s second major digital awareness initiative, following an online masterclass on Artificial Intelligence for seniors in June 2025. Odisha-based IT company CSM Technologies Ltd. is supporting the programme under its CSR activities.

“Our support is towards digital inclusion to ensure that our parents and elders are not left out from reaping the benefits of technology,” said Lagna Panda, Director, CSM Technologies.

The masterclass addressed rising cyber threats such as phishing calls, UPI frauds, identity theft, fake customer-care scams and increasingly sophisticated social engineering tactics. Experts noted that seniors—who have grown more dependent on digital services since the pandemic—face heightened risks due to limited exposure to fast-evolving cybercrime methods.

Arun Bothra, Additional Director General of Police, Odisha, and founder of India Cares Volunteers, guided participants on practical tools and habits for staying safe online. “Awareness is the strongest defence. One alert elder can prevent an entire family from falling prey to cyber fraud,” he said, applauding the Foundation’s efforts.

The master-trainer, Yogesh Sapkale, Deputy Editor at Moneylife Foundation, demonstrated real-life techniques used by scammers and how they can be spotted before damage occurs. Moneylife Foundation, founded by noted journalist Sucheta Dalal, works extensively on financial frauds and digital safety.

An emotional moment came when Foundation member Swarn Chandra narrated her traumatic ‘digital arrest’ experience from 2023. She shared how she lost money to cybercriminals but later managed to recover most of it with help from the police, moving many in the audience.

The event was supported by Jindal Foundation, Jindal Steel, and Prelude Ventures. The Silver Age Foundation announced that it will soon expand its community outreach on digital safety for elders across Bhubaneswar.

A devotional rendition—Manasa Satatam Smaraniyam—by the Silver Age choir, comprising ten senior citizens, and a thematic skit by Kalakar Theatre Group directed by Jagadish Prasad Maharana, added cultural depth to the programme, leaving a lasting impression on participants.

The Foundation emphasised that empowering elders with cyber awareness is no longer optional—it is essential to protect them from becoming easy targets in an increasingly digital world.