Lolo and Lola vs. Fraud: The Case of Senior Citizens of Pagsanjan, Laguna Fighting Back Against the ‘Scamdemic’

Abstract

Digital technology continues to evolve, making day-to-day tasks faster and easier. Yet with such rapid evolution has come many risks, as criminals continue to find innovative ways to defraud unwitting victims. This leaves end users at risk, especially senior citizens— a sector especially vulnerable due to scant digital skills. This narrative inquiry looked at how senior citizens in Pagsanjan, Laguna guard against scams, the extent of their knowledge about the risks, and what they believe could help them better discern scam content. This fills a research gap on how Filipino seniors deal with scams and what support they need for better protection. This study examined the experience of six senior citizens, each of whom have had their own brush with fraud, from near misses to actual victimization. It found that the subject seniors have gained self-taught tactics to protect themselves through exposure to news and social media, personal experience, and warnings from reputable organizations and their peers. But while they expressed confidence that they could protect themselves against fraudsters, they believe the elderly need proper support. This could be delivered in two ways: learning sessions mounted by the government with the help of relevant organizations; and peer guidance.