Elderly

Grandma Xu, a Chinese senior and former fraud victim, successfully turned the tables on a scammer impersonating her grandson. Educated by local police anti-fraud campaigns, she skillfully engaged the suspect until authorities arrived. This case highlights the growing success of anti-fraud education in empowering seniors to identify and thwart scams targeting their trust and vulnerabilities. Authorities emphasize vigilance, communication with family, and reporting suspicious activity to combat increasingly sophisticated schemes that exploit elders.

The widespread use of smartphones is bringing previously offline populations online, yet a digital literacy gap is emerging. A recent case in China illustrates this challenge. A 68-year-old man, misunderstanding a public video, believed an online personality was addressing him personally, leading to infatuation and preparations for a meeting. Local authorities intervened, educating the man about public content versus private communication, and resolving the misunderstanding.