Video: @ciberseguracat / X
Digital Barriers and Scams Target Older Adults
On Thursday 1 October 2026, International Day of Older Persons, the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona) issued a public warning about the growing risks of digital fraud and financial exclusion among older residents. As bank branches close and services shift online, many elderly people face difficulties accessing financial tools safely. The council notes that while older adults are not a uniform group, many continue to prefer in-person banking, cash transactions, or paper passbooks. However, the closure of local bank branches, particularly in smaller towns with ageing populations, has made these options increasingly unavailable. At the same time, the complexity of digital banking systems poses challenges, such as completing transfers or recognising phishing messages.
Online Fraud Affects Over Half of Elderly Victims
According to the 2023 Catalonia Public Safety Survey, 53% of fraud victims over the age of 65 were targeted by online scams. The most common methods include phishing emails and fake messages impersonating banks via instant messaging. The Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat) reports that in 2024, only 62.4% of people aged 65 to 74 used internet or mobile banking, compared to 89.7% of those aged 35 to 44.
The digital transformation must not become a new source of exclusion
The council stresses that digitalisation should support, not hinder, access to essential services. It calls for greater protection and support to ensure older adults can manage finances securely and independently.
Support Programmes and Public Guidance
The Barcelona Provincial Council recommends that residents never share personal or banking details in response to unsolicited messages. It promotes the use of municipal Consumer Information Offices (OMIC) and citizen service departments as support hubs for building digital financial skills. Through its Service Catalog, the council provides local governments with resources including the educational programmes Que no ens enredin (Don't Let Them Trick Us) and La realitat dels serveis financers (The Reality of Financial Services). These aim to help citizens identify scams, understand consumer rights, and use electronic banking safely. This initiative aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), part of the 2030 Agenda adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. The council supports local governments in meeting these goals through targeted social and digital inclusion efforts.
Primary sources: diba.cat, idescat.cat, Notes de seguretat, gov.uk, reliefweb.int, Diputació de Barcelona - Press Room. Reported by press.un.org, news.un.org.
