Social engineers prey on the elderly by befriending lonely people and using persuasion tactics to gain their trust and obtain personal information. They target information like social security numbers, dates of birth, bank accounts and credit cards. Tactics include promising large sums of money, claiming one transaction is needed, or offering vacations. Victims are encouraged to share account information or get involved in romantic relationships. It is important for the elderly to ask questions, request credentials, and be wary of potential scams.