Designing a real-time cybercrime alert system for older adults: Neurophysiological solution during COVID-19

Older adults are increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime, losing up to $36 billion in recent years in North America. With an increasing number of older adults spending time online, combined with the sense of confinement and anxiety due to COVID-19 restrictions, cybercriminals have taken advantage of the situation. Therefore, it is imperative for governments and online service providers to address this issue of cybercrime targeting older adults. Real-time neurophysiological quantification of the characteristics specific to older adult victims of cybercrime has public policy implications and may assist in identifying persons at high risk of victimization. This can aid in directing interventions to these vulnerable older adults, ideally before they are targeted for cybercrimes. This research seeks to empower older adults to age in place through the design of a real-time cybercrime alert system.