Comparative Legal Frameworks for Protecting Elderly People from Cyberfraud

Abstract

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in cybercrime targeting seniors. In countries like Poland, specific scam methods such as the “grandson” or “policeman” trick and phishing attacks have become prevalent, often resulting in the loss of life savings. Despite the growing scale of the problem, criminology faces challenges in accurately measuring the extent of internet fraud. The internet’s reach and anonymity facilitate these crimes, making detection and prevention more difficult than with traditional methods. This raises critical questions about the adequacy of current legal protections for the elderly and whether criminal law should address the exploitation of their gullibility or ignorance. By examining legal definitions, perpetrators’ modus operandi, and comparative international solutions, the study aims to assess whether existing frameworks sufficiently safeguard seniors and to explore the potential for harmonized cross-border legal measures to better protect this increasingly targeted demographic.