Multimodal anti fraud education improves cognitive emotional and behavioral engagement in older adults

Zhou, Yan-Bang ; Bu, Ya-Ru ; Bao, Qing ; Zhao, Hong-Jin (2025) — Scientific Reports

Synopsis

This catalog-style synopsis summarizes a study reported in Scientific Reports that examines an educational program aimed at reducing fraud vulnerability among older adults. The program is described as multimodal, utilizing more than a single mode of instruction to convey information about common scams, risk indicators, and protective strategies. The account outlines the intended purpose of the intervention, the characteristics of the participant group, and the general framework for evaluating perceived and actual changes in engagement. The material is presented as relevant to practitioners, families, and organizations concerned with safeguarding autonomy and financial security in later life. Findings are described in terms of changes in cognitive engagement (attention, information processing, recall), emotional engagement (interest, motivation, perceived threat), and behavioral engagement (risk-reducing actions, help-seeking, reporting). The report emphasizes a connection between exposure to multimodal content and improved involvement with learning tasks and protective behaviors. Although the description remains non-technical, the overall narrative suggests that participants showed greater active participation during sessions and more attentive and reflective responses in subsequent activities. The synopsis notes implications for program design, suggesting that combining multiple delivery methods may broaden reach and accommodate diverse preferences among older adults. It situates the work within broader efforts to strengthen fraud literacy, everyday safety, and resilience in aging populations, and it points to areas for future inquiry, including long-term effects, scalability, and integration with community supports.

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