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

Multimodal Anti-Fraud Education Enhances Engagement and Reduces Vulnerability Among Older Adults

Introduction

Older adults are increasingly targeted by sophisticated financial fraud schemes such as investment scams, identity theft, and imposter scams. Cognitive decline, social isolation, and trust-based relationships make them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Despite the severity of these risks, older victims often underreport incidents, leading to significant financial losses. This calls for effective educational strategies that address both the cognitive and emotional needs of older adults to improve their ability to detect and resist fraud.

Comparing Video-Based and Text-Based Anti-Fraud Education

A recent study explored the differential impact of video-based versus text-based anti-fraud educational materials on older adults’ cognitive comprehension, emotional engagement, and behavioral intentions. The research involved 220 participants aged 60 and above, who were randomly assigned to receive either video or text-based anti-fraud interventions.

Video-based education was found to significantly outperform text-based materials in enhancing cognitive understanding, emotional connection, and intentions to adopt anti-fraud behaviors. Videos included dynamic visual and auditory stimuli, such as real actors’ gestures and facial expressions, which helped reduce cognitive load and foster emotional resonance. This aligns with Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, which emphasizes older adults’ preference for emotionally meaningful content, and Multimedia Learning Theory, highlighting the benefits of multi-channel information delivery.

Conversely, text-based materials provided detailed, structured guidance that heightened awareness of financial vulnerabilities but elicited lower emotional engagement. Text formats favored systematic learning styles and were more accessible due to lower production costs and ease of distribution.

Impact on Perceived Financial Vulnerability

Participants who received video-based education reported a lower overall sense of financial vulnerability, especially regarding psychological and relational insecurity. However, they perceived higher financial insecurity compared to those receiving text-based materials. This suggests that while videos effectively reduce emotional and relational risks associated with fraud, structured textual information helps older adults feel more financially secure by providing clear control strategies.

Bastian Schwind-Wagner_Follow "A new study shows that combining video and text in anti-fraud education significantly enhances older adults' understanding and motivation to prevent fraud, while also reducing their perceived vulnerability. This multimodal approach offers a powerful tool to protect seniors from financial exploitation."

Cognitive Comprehension as a Key Mediator for Behavioral Change

The study’s mediation analysis revealed that cognitive comprehension significantly mediated the effect of intervention format on behavioral intentions to prevent fraud. Emotional engagement, although enhanced by video formats, did not directly influence behavioral intentions in this study. This finding underscores the importance of enhancing understanding alongside emotional appeal to motivate protective behaviors.

Practical Implications for Anti-Fraud Education

The results suggest that a multimodal educational approach combining video’s emotional immediacy with text’s structured clarity can effectively meet older adults’ diverse needs. Such integration can reduce cognitive overload while maximizing engagement and motivation to adopt preventive measures.

Increasing media exposure among older adults also emerged as a protective factor, enhancing receptiveness to anti-fraud messages and reducing perceived vulnerability. Therefore, educational programs should consider personalized approaches tailored to individual cognitive capacities and emotional preferences.

Limitations and Future Directions

While this study offers valuable insights, it is limited by its focus on urban populations and lack of longitudinal follow-up. Future research should explore long-term effects of multimodal interventions across diverse socioeconomic groups and investigate sequencing effects of video and text formats. Emerging technologies like virtual reality and gamification also present promising avenues for enhancing fraud education among older adults.

Conclusion

Multimodal anti-fraud education that strategically integrates video and text formats significantly improves cognitive understanding, emotional engagement, and behavioral intentions among older adults, while reducing their financial vulnerability. Policymakers and educators should adopt such comprehensive strategies to strengthen older adults’ resilience against increasingly sophisticated financial scams.

Dive deeper

• Research ¦ Zhou, YB., Bu, YR., Bao, Q. et al. Multimodal anti fraud education improves cognitive emotional and behavioral engagement in older adults. Sci Rep 15, 29389 (2025). ¦ Link