Elder Fraud Metrics and Preventative Measures of Chesapeake, Virginia

Geriatric crime continues to escalate in the digital era, where older individuals are disproportionately being targeted because of their low digital literacy and high susceptibility to online frauds. In this paper, we examine the breadth of elder fraud in Chesapeake, Virginia using FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data and state-level cybersecurity initiatives and survey responses. Older adults aged 60 and up have reported losses of over $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, underscoring the importance of proactive measures. It assesses the public awareness from traditional and AI-based perspectives revealing significant gaps in digital safety literacy and fraud reporting mechanism among older adults. This paper outlines a simple version of the NIST CSF for non-technical people to enhance intergenerational support, education, and early detection strategies through a series of easy activities. Presented within the context of Virginia’s cybersecurity strategies, such as community efforts on education and exercises like Cyber Fortress 2.0, the paper makes a case for a comprehensive, inclusive model for enabling cyber resilience among older ages. The results are a reminder of the need to raise awareness and increase access to cybersecurity resources as well as encourage proactive discussions across generations to combat the threat imposed by elder fraud.