China issues guideline for senior citizens to prevent fraud

BEIJING -- China on Wednesday issued a guideline to help elderly people avoid fraud.

Written and published by the China National Committee on Aging (CNCA) and the Ministry of Public Security, the guideline summarizes six tips to prevent fraud, with 40 sample cases concerning fraud via Internet, telecommunications, street scams and other methods.

The advice includes giving up greed, resisting vanity, strengthening awareness, handling problems through official channels, keeping regular communication with friends, and adopting a reasonable approach and open mind.

China has an aging society, with people above 60 years numbering more than 200 million in 2013. It is estimated that by 2053, about 487 million Chinese will be older than 60, accounting for one-fourth of the world's senior citizens.

Wu Yushao, deputy head of the CNCA, said the reason seniors are prone to fraud is due to a diminished sense of caution and the constantly changing nature of scams.

Many senior citizens also lack care from their families and society, Wu added.

More than 50 percent of seniors in China, and 70 percent in big cities, live by themselves without their children. They feel lonely and badly crave communication, making them vulnerable to swindlers.

The first 150,000 guidelines published will be provided to senior citizens for free.