Name: Nireekshan Singh Gowgi S K
Country: India

Year: 2025
Volume: Volume No: 10, Issue No: 2, Year: 2025 (Special Issue)
Page Number: 33-44
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17996219

ABSTRACT
In the present age, reliance on technology has become a vital part of daily living. The introduction and use of technology in almost every field has significantly simplified life’s complexities. At the same time, the inability to use technology effectively can make individuals socially disadvantaged. Hence, the necessity for people to make use of technology for their own benefit has grown stronger than ever. Computers, internet access, and smartphones have now become inseparable elements of people’s lives across all social groups. However, certain sections of the population continue to remain behind in this process of technological
adaptation. Among them, the most affected are rural communities, the illiterate and grassroots-level groups. Within these, senior citizens are considered the most vulnerable. They often struggle to cope with the fast-paced changes brought about by technology and find it challenging to keep up. In their efforts to adapt, senior citizens attempt to learn basic computer literacy, internet usage, smartphone handling, and entrepreneurial activities using various applications. While this has simplified their daily
lives and strengthened their bond with younger generations, challenges persist.
Despite its advantages, technology also carries risks. Daily news reports often highlight incidents of its misuse, where fraudsters exploit vulnerable groups. Senior citizens, owing to their limited digital literacy, frequently become the easiest targets of such online scams. This research aimed to study 101 senior citizens, focusing on their digital literacy, fear of online scams, and the preventive measures they adopt to safeguard themselves. Data collection was carried out using an interview schedule, and the gathered responses were analysed systematically. The findings reflect senior citizens’ perceptions and their confidence levels regarding online scams. The processed data have been presented using suitable tables for better understanding.

Keywords: Online Scams, Senior Citizens, Fear, Confidence, Technology, and Awareness