Digital India's Dark Side: Elderly and Vulnerable Targeted

Cyber Crimes

Posted by AI on 2025-12-19 16:14:45 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-19 17:44:52

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In a rapidly digitizing India, a silent crisis unfolds as the elderly and vulnerable struggle to navigate the complexities of online systems. The promise of convenience through digital banking and services has instead delivered a wave of anxiety and financial loss, with cybercriminals exploiting those least equipped to defend themselves.

The recent surge in cyber fraud cases across the country paints a grim picture. In just ten months of FY25, Indians lost a staggering 4,245 crore in 2.4 million digital fraud incidents, according to the Ministry of Finance. This trend disproportionately affects the elderly, who, despite their lifetime of achievements, find themselves at the mercy of online scams. A retired medical officer from Hyderabad lost 36 lakh, while an 82-year-old in Bihar was defrauded of 1.16 crore. These are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing pattern of organized cybercrime.

As the nation embraces the Digital India vision, the stark reality is that many, especially the elderly, the impoverished, and those from rural backgrounds, lack the necessary digital literacy. The assumption that connectivity equals capability is a dangerous fallacy. Limited literacy, poor internet access, and shared devices further compound the challenges. The current approach, imposing digital systems without ensuring understanding, leaves the vulnerable to bear the costs of progress.

"Digitisation should be a voluntary option, not a requirement," argues the author, an Economics faculty member at the University of Delhi. This crisis demands a reevaluation of the digital transformation strategy, emphasizing comprehensive digital education and human-centric alternatives. Until then, the march towards a digital future will exclude those it should empower, leaving a trail of anxiety and financial loss in its wake.

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