Experts from the University of Rush in Chicago conducted a study to investigate how older people are protected from common types of fraud. The results of the experiment were published in the journal Jama Network Open, where researchers collaborated with representatives of state organizations to study the target group.
The study involved 644 participants over the age of 85, who were part of the long-term project Rush Memory and Aging Project. Communication with the participants was established through phone calls or emails.
The participants were then divided into three groups: those who were not contacted, those who were contacted with skepticism, and those who willingly engaged with the “attackers” in the experiment.
Out of the 644 participants, 441 (68.5%) did not make any contact, 97 (15.1%) responded with skepticism, and 106 (16.4%) did not suspect anything and willingly engaged. Surprisingly, nearly three-quarters of the participants in the last group provided personal information. The study revealed that the type of contact made was influenced by factors such as cognitive abilities, financial literacy, and general knowledge about such scams.