Year-End Shopping Season Raises Alarm Over Elderly Fraud Victims

According to a recent survey by Brazilian cybersecurity firm Avast, 69% of respondents expressed concern that elderly people around them would fall victim to online scams during the Black Friday period. Phishing attacks through emails or text messages containing fake discount offers were identified as the primary threat.

The survey revealed concerns beyond just the elderly population. 72% of respondents expressed fear that they themselves could become targets of cyberattacks while preparing for year-end shopping. This suggests that major shopping events like Black Friday have become significant opportunities not only for consumers but also for cybercriminals.

Serious Lack of Digital Security Awareness Across General Population

The fraud risks during the year-end shopping season are not confined to specific age groups. The Avast survey revealed that Brazilian consumers overall are seriously underprepared in terms of digital security.

Key Survey Findings:

• 68%: Concerned about Black Friday scam victimization
• 61%: Worried about artificial intelligence (AI)-based fraud
• 86%: Recognize the need for education on safe online shopping methods
• 35%: Have already been targeted by online scams
• 65%: Actually suffered losses when targeted by scammers

Particularly noteworthy is the concern about new forms of fraud utilizing AI technology. As deepfake technology advances, enabling scammers to employ increasingly sophisticated methods, 61% of respondents perceive this as a serious threat.

Average Loss of $2,000, Cases Reaching Up to $200,000

The financial impact of online fraud has reached serious levels. Among survey participants who were victimized, 91% suffered average losses of approximately R$ 2,000 (about $2,000), with the most extreme cases involving losses reaching approximately R$ 200,000 (about $200,000).

These figures demonstrate that crimes threatening livelihoods are occurring routinely, going beyond simple small-scale fraud. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to greater losses due to their relatively lower digital literacy.

The Need for Education and Prevention

The fact that 86% of respondents want education on safe online shopping methods points toward a solution. Many Brazilian consumers are aware of the risks but don't know how to respond specifically.

Basic Security Practices Recommended by Experts:

• Directly enter official website URLs (avoid clicking links)
• Be suspicious of email/SMS promotion links
• Use virtual card numbers
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Monitor account activity regularly

[AI Analysis] Digital Security Education as the Solution

These survey results reveal a facet of a problem spreading not only in Brazil but globally. As e-commerce becomes part of daily life, opportunities for cybercrime are also increasing, and particularly the advancement of AI technology is making fraud methods more sophisticated.

In the short term, consumer awareness is likely to increase ahead of Black Friday and the year-end season. However, for fundamental solutions, governments, corporations, and educational institutions must collaborate to establish systematic digital security education programs.

Customized education targeting the elderly is particularly urgent. While the fact that 86% recognize the need for education is a positive signal, improving actual educational accessibility and effectiveness remains a challenge. Going forward, technical responses such as e-commerce platforms strengthening security features and introducing AI systems that automatically block suspicious transactions will also need to be implemented in parallel.