Both young and old face rising cybercrime threats, studies show

Age-targeted cyberthreats, from sextortion to phishing, are on the rise.

- By Lisakanya Venna

At least two recent studies have revealed the alarming trend of exploitation of both the young and the elderly, leaving them open to sexual and financial exploitation.

The Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 exposes how sophisticated local and international networks use advanced deception techniques to exploit human vulnerabilities across the age board.

Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Against Senior Citizens study, coauthored by Suleman Lazarus, a sociologist at the University of the Western Cape, reveals that cybercriminals deliberately target older adults, using age-related traits as a weapon.

"Older adults often have higher levels of trust in societal institutions and individuals, which cybercriminals exploit by portraying themselves as trustworthy," says the study.

Elderly prey