Cyber fraudsters increasingly target older residents in Guwahati with pension and medical scams

GUWAHATI: Cyber fraudsters are increasingly targeting older residents in Guwahati by posing as officials and using pension, medical benefits and banking-related pretexts to gain access to their personal and financial information.

According to a recent report, people above the age of 50 are being approached through phone calls and other forms of communication, with fraudsters exploiting concerns related to pensions, medical cards, bank accounts and government benefits.

The scammers typically create a sense of urgency, convincing victims that their pension, medical benefits or financial accounts could be affected unless they immediately provide information or complete a purported verification process.

Such calls can eventually lead to the disclosure of sensitive banking credentials or other personal information, allowing fraudsters to siphon money from victims’ accounts.

The growing targeting of senior citizens has emerged as a particular concern as scammers increasingly tailor their approaches around the financial and healthcare needs of older people.

Authorities have repeatedly advised people not to share OTPs, PINs, passwords, card details or other banking credentials over phone calls. Anyone receiving a suspicious call should independently verify the caller’s identity and report suspected cyber fraud immediately.

The Assam Police maintains a dedicated cybercrime and cyber-forensics setup to investigate financial and other forms of online fraud.

With cyber fraud methods becoming increasingly sophisticated, awareness and early reporting remain critical to limiting financial losses.