These under-the-radar risk factors may explain why some older people are more vulnerable to scams

Researchers have identified psychological and cognitive factors that may increase older adults' susceptibility to financial scams, including changes in social reasoning and trust assessment. A study published in the journal Cognition found that older adults showed reduced ability to detect deceptive intent compared to younger participants. Scammers exploit these vulnerabilities through prolonged contact designed to build trust before requesting money or personal information. The research suggests that age-related changes in certain cognitive functions, rather than overall intelligence decline, may account for increased victimization rates in this population.

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