Prosecutors step up legal protection for elderly people

Prosecutors are stepping up legal protection for elderly people through various prosecution functions, focusing on fraud prevention, pension and employment rights, elderly care safety and emerging risks in the digital economy, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said Friday.

The SPP released nine typical cases as part of this year's national campaign to promote respect and care of elderly people, marking the 30th anniversary of the implementation of the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly.

The cases cover telecom and online fraud, claims for financial support, misleading marketing through private livestreams, oversight of elderly care institutions, and the protection of social insurance and employment rights.

An SPP official said prosecutors have intensified efforts to crack down on crimes targeting elderly people, including fundraising and telecom fraud carried out under the guise of elderly care, health care services or investment products.

Authorities are also stepping up efforts to trace and recover illicit gains and compensate victims. Prosecutors have urged elderly people to remain alert to promises of "high returns with no risk", emotional marketing tactics and requests to disclose bank account information, passwords or verification codes.

Legal protection has also expanded beyond criminal cases. In March, the Supreme People's Court and the SPP jointly issued guidelines on supporting civil litigation, clarifying that elderly people who have difficulty filing lawsuits to seek maintenance or financial support may seek assistance from procuratorates. Prosecutors can provide legal advice, help arrange legal aid, collect relevant materials and facilitate settlements.

Administrative prosecution has focused on work-related injury protection for workers beyond the statutory retirement age, pension benefits and the regulation of elderly care services. Prosecutors have also sought to resolve long-running administrative disputes that risk leaving elderly claimants caught in repeated legal proceedings.

In one case in Sichuan province, prosecutors helped resolve a nine-year pension dispute after finding archival evidence that the claimant had 14 years of continuous service that should have counted toward pension eligibility.

Public-interest litigation has meanwhile targeted problems including false advertising in private livestreams, inaccessible facilities and shortcomings in elderly care services.

In another case, prosecutors in Shanghai's Minhang district investigated businesses accused of making false health claims to elderly consumers through closed-door livestreams and private social media groups. Elderly volunteers with professional expertise helped collect evidence. After receiving the procuratorate's recommendations, market regulators penalized six operators, ordered them to stop the misleading advertising and eliminate its effects, and shut down three stores.

The SPP said prosecutors will continue to combine case handling with broader governance, strengthen coordination with regulators, and use typical cases to raise elderly people's awareness of fraud risks and ability to protect their rights.