Truth, Trust, And Trickery: Older Adults’ Experiences With Misinformation And Scams In Cabuyao, Laguna
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63084/cognexus.v2i2.308Keywords:
older adults, misinformation, fraud, digital literacy, digital fraud, credibility assessment, scam awarenessAbstract
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has increased the vulnerability of older adults to misinformation and fraud, posing potential threats to their financial security, privacy, trust, and psychological well-being. The current study investigated the experiences of older adults aged 45–65 living in the City of Cabuyao, Province of Laguna, who encountered various scams or misinformation. Theoretical models that guided this study include Media Literacy Theory and the Digital Information Disorder Framework, and the method employed in the research was a qualitative phenomenological design. Participants of the study included four older adults aged 45–65 who lived in the City of Cabuyao and used digital services. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, and a phenomenologically oriented thematic analysis was used to analyze the information obtained. Inductive analysis generated four themes in the study: (1) navigating digital risks and fraudulent threats; (2) credibility assessment shaped by familiarity and verification practices; (3) emotional distress and reflective learning from scam encounters; and (4) protective strategies and social support in scam avoidance. The participants identified impersonation, requests for sensitive information, fraudulent transactions, and deceptive online services. The findings showed that participants’ assessments of credibility were influenced by familiarity and perceived legitimacy. Scam encounters also elicited various emotional responses and encouraged participants to become more vigilant in evaluating information and protecting themselves from potential fraud.
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