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Emirates 24|7 reported that cybersecurity experts are highlighting a growing threat from AI-powered scams that specifically target the savings of elderly individuals. The warnings come as fraudsters leverage advanced tools to create convincing impersonations and urgent requests that appear authentic. According to the UAE Cybersecurity Council, artificial intelligence has transformed fraudulent practices by enabling tasks that once required significant time to be completed in seconds. The council’s Cyber Pulse initiative has stressed that these technologies increase the complexity of detecting cyber fraud.
A UAE Ministry of Interior statement issued during a United Nations Congress session in October 2026 noted that older people are among the groups most targeted by online fraudsters. The ministry explained that scammers exploit AI technologies to imitate voices of family members and deceive victims into handing over money or personal information. It emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies, public prosecution authorities and financial institutions to combat the trend.
The US Senate Aging Committee’s latest annual report found that scams against older persons are increasingly using artificial intelligence along with person-to-person money transfers and cryptocurrency. The committee reported that losses logged by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2024 increased by a third in just one year, including losses reported by those age 60 and over that rose by more than four-tenths. Federal Trade Commission data places scams reported by adults age 60 and older at $2.4 billion in 2024, marking a 26.3 percent rise from 2023.
Industry analysis cited by cybersecurity reports indicates that AI-enabled fraud has increased by over 400 percent between 2023 and 2025. Voice cloning technology that can imitate a person’s voice based on a short recording and deepfake video images have made such scams more convincing and easier to deploy on a larger scale, the Senate panel assessment found. A Wall Street Journal review of the trend noted that scammers use fear, urgency and misinformation tactics to trick victims who may be emotionally vulnerable or less digitally savvy.
Cyber Defense Magazine figures show that Americans aged 60 and older lost an estimated $81 billion to fraud in a single recent year, with many cases going unreported due to embarrassment. The publication attributed the acceleration to rapid improvements in voice cloning, deepfake video and AI-generated impersonation that allow a single individual to conduct operations previously requiring coordination and expertise. Older adults are often more likely to answer unknown calls and engage in conversation while possessing accumulated assets that make them attractive targets.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council assessment found that AI-powered phishing is responsible for more than 90 percent of digital breaches as scammers craft messages that appear almost perfectly authentic. The council urged individuals and organisations to strengthen vigilance as advanced technologies reshape cybercrime. Specialists have recommended verifying any unexpected requests for funds or data through independent channels such as direct calls to known numbers rather than responding to provided contacts.
