THE VULNERABILITY OF OLDER PEOPLE TO FRAUD IN MANACAPURU (AM): A STUDY ON SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AND CRIMINAL STRATEGIES

Abstract

Population aging in Brazil, where the population aged 60 or over already exceeds 32 million people, brings growing challenges for public safety, notably the significant increase in fraud cases against older people, especially in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability and digital exclusion. This article investigates the following question: what factors contribute to the susceptibility of older people to the crime of fraud in Manacapuru, Amazonas? The general objective is to analyze the elements that make older people preferred targets of this crime, focusing on digital exclusion, public prevention policies, and social isolation. The specific objectives were to identify the main types of scams, analyze the socioeconomic factors of vulnerability, investigate the strategies used by scammers, and assess the social and emotional impacts on victims. The research is justified by the scarcity of studies on the topic in regional Amazonian contexts, which are essential for the formulation of effective public policies. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, with structured questionnaires administered to 20 older adults, semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, and focus groups, in addition to documentary analysis of records from the Specialized Police Station. The results revealed an increase in reported cases, a 60% prevalence of fraud linked to payroll-deducted loans and the misuse of credit cards, 81% of older people feeling insecure with banking technologies, and 75% with low educational attainment. Qualitatively, categories such as social isolation, emotional manipulation, low digital literacy, and institutional unpreparedness were identified. Therefore, vulnerability results from the interaction between individual frailties and structural failures, requiring integrated policies for digital inclusion, psychosocial support, and the strengthening of protection networks.