Search

The Dual Vulnerability of Cognitive Decline and Social Deficiency: The Psychology of Elderly Victims of Telecom Fraud

Author(s)

Zuxian Zhou, Jiaming Cui, Hao Cai

Affiliation(s)

Beijing Police College, Beijing, China

Abstract

With the aggravation of ageing of the population and the increasing telecom fraud crimes connected to the elderly in china, it is imperative to investigate and analysis the psychological mechanism of these elderly. According to the cognitive aging theory and social support theory, a three-levels psychological risks model of the elderly telecom fraud was proposed. The double fragile issues in the elderly, cognitive decline and social loneliness, interact each other, resulted the telecom fraud cases. At the level of risk input, the double fragile issues, cognitive decline, such as weak working memory, decreased information processing rate and declined executive control abilities, and social loneliness brought high trust and low doubt to the elderly. At the level of interacting, cheaters used the pointed Language manipulation skill, such as the emotion guide, authority suggestion and making the sense of urgency, to meet the elderly’s cognitive decline. At the same time, the elderly’s affect hunger from social loneliness eased the cheaters’ manipulation. At the level of result output, cognitive decline and social loneliness made the elderly falsely trust the cheaters and accept false information. At the same time, the elderly can not ask for help timely because of absenting of social support. All these resulted in the economic losses and psychological injuries. At the conclusion, the elderly telecom frauds were not only from the geriatric cognitive decline, but also from the social loneliness.

Keywords

Telecom Fraud; Cognitive Decline; Social Loneliness; Language Manipulation; Geriatric Psychology

References

[1] Liu Chenhui; Bai Shixuan; Dong Xinyu; Hierarchical differentiation, Generation Mechanism and Governance Path of Digital Security Risks for the Elderly in the Intelligent Age: A Perspective Based on Digital Literacy. Journal of Humanities, 2025(08): 137-145. [2] Liu Miaosen; Analysis of the causes and countermeasures of fraud victimization among the elderly from the perspective of criminological theory. Modern Trade Industry, 2024(10): 201- 203. [3] Xia Yiwei; Patterns and Causes of Repeated fraud victimization among the elderly: An empirical Analysis based on more than ten thousand samples. Journal of Shandong University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 2025(02): 82-96. [4] Li Weifeng; Legal Analysis behind Pension fraud. Journal of Shanxi College of Political Science and Law Management Cadres, 2023(02): 98-100. [5] Zhang Ganhan. The impact of Emotional Arousal on the Susceptibility of Elderly people to Fraud: The Role of Early Warning and Delayed Decision-making. Southwest University, 2021. [6] Li Yang. Research on the Intervention Approach of Case Work for the Elderly to Prevent Telecom and Internet Fraud. Southwest University, 2020. [7] Zhang Yiming. The impact of Interpersonal trust, Loneliness, Social Support and Cognitive Function on Elderly Fraud. Fujian Normal University, 2019. [8] Liang Guanlan. Cognitive Ability, Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits of Victims of Telecom Fraud. Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 2022. [9] Gao Xinyu. The Impact of Online Social Media Exposure on Elderly Scams and Responses. Supervisor: Zhou Junshan. Public Security University of China, 2025. [10]Liang Wenyong. Research on the Enhancement of Fraud Prevention Capabilities of Urban Empty-nest Elders through Group Work Intervention. Supervisor: Chen Youwu; Ouyang Bing. Guangdong University of Technology, 2025. [11]Zhang Yuxuan. Research on Fraud Exposure Risk and Rights Protection Strategies for the Elderly. Supervisor: Liu Jinhua. Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, 2025. [12]Wang Yefan. Research on the Prevention and Control of Pension Fraud from the Perspective of Community Governance. Supervisor: Zhang Libin. Public Security University of China, 2024. [13]Nie Zihao. Research on the Governance of Fraud Involving Health Products for the Elderly in China. Supervisor: Wang Shiqing. Public Security University of China, 2024. [14]Zhao Qizhi, Kang Jie. Research on Pension Fraud Crime from the Perspective of Theory of Daily Activities. Research on Crime and Reform, 2023, (07):10-18. [15]Tang Kaixian. Research on Countermeasures for the Investigation and Prevention of Pension Fraud crimes. Supervisor: Qin Guanying. Gansu University of Political Science and Law, 2023. [16]Mu Caiwei. A Practical Study on Enhancing the Anti-fraud Ability of Elderly People living Alone in Cities. Supervisor: Dong Zhifeng. Gansu University of Political Science and Law, 2021. [17]Shi Lili. A Case Work Intervention Study on Psychological Counseling for Elderly Victims of Telecom and Internet Fraud. Supervisor: Liu Changhu. Northeast Petroleum University, 2021. [18]He Ningning. Research on Social Work Promoting the Enhancement of Fraud Awareness among the Elderly. Supervisor: Shen Guanchen. Changchun University of Science and Technology, 2021.