Elder fraud affects millions of people all over the globe. Although Scamwatch identified an overall decline in scam incidents and losses, far too many older Australians continue to fall victim. In 2024, Australians aged 65 and over reported 62,147 scams, with losses totalling $99.6 million.
Scammers go to shocking lengths to defraud older Australians – and sadly, it’s easy to see why. Many seniors aren’t as familiar with technology, making them more vulnerable to manipulation. Their trusting nature, combined with the fact that many are retirees with significant savings or investments, makes them attractive targets. Even a single scam can cause devastating financial and emotional losses.
That’s why protecting older Australians is so important. As families and communities, we can play a vital role in looking out for our parents, grandparents, and neighbours. The first step is awareness – understanding how these scams work and how to recognise the warning signs.
With that in mind, this article explores the top three scams currently targeting older Australians and how you can help stop them.
Top 3 scams to watch out for
1. Impersonation scams
Impersonation scams occur when a scammer pretends to be someone else in order to trick the victim into handing over money or personal information. Scammers may reach out through fake phone calls, text messages, or emails while posing as trusted figures – such as a bank staff, police officer, debt collector, ATO agent, Australia Post representative, or even a family member.
Impersonation scams can take many forms and narratives. A scammer might call claiming there’s an urgent problem with your bank account and request personal details such as your account number, address, one time passcodes (OTP’s) or PIN to ‘fix’ the issue. In another common example, scammers send a “Hi Mum” text, pretending to be a child in trouble and urgently needing money.
Urge your elderly loved ones to be wary of unsolicited messages, calls, and emails from unknown contacts. Make them understand that banks and government agencies never call or text anyone requesting personal data or money. And those fake “Hi Mum” texts can be easy to expose with a quick call to whoever the scammer pretends to be.
2. Card collection scams
Card-related scams are on the rise. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 2.1 million people experienced some form of card fraud between July 2023 and June 2024 – that’s roughly 1 in 10 Australians.
One common tactic is the card collection scam. It usually begins with a scammer posing as a bank representative, claiming there’s a problem with your card. They’ll instruct you to leave your “faulty” or “hacked” card, along with the PIN, in your mailbox so the bank can ‘collect’ it. In reality, the scammer retrieves the card and uses it to withdraw cash, make purchases, or even apply for loans.
Here’s what to remember:
- No legitimate bank will ever ask you to hand over your card and PIN
- Being told to leave your card in the mailbox is a major red flag
- Banks will only ever contact you to confirm suspicious transactions or respond to your enquiries.
Encourage your friends, parents, grandparents, or elderly neighbours to be cautious with anyone claiming to be from a bank – especially if the request seems unusual or urgent.
3. Remote access scams
Remote access scams involve criminals tricking you into giving them control of your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Typically, it starts with a phone call or email from someone pretending to be tech support from a trusted company. They’ll claim there’s a problem with your device and convince you to install a remote access tool. Once installed, scammers can view your screen, access your apps, and steal sensitive personal information or money.
This scam often targets older Australians who may feel less confident with technology. The best protection is awareness and safe online habits:
- Never download or install software from unfamiliar emails, calls, or pop-up messages
- Be cautious of anyone asking you to click a link or install a program to “fix” an issue
- Remember: legitimate companies will never ask you to install remote access software to resolve a problem.
Encourage your friends, parents, grandparents, or neighbours to talk to someone they trust before taking action on suspicious calls or emails. A quick conversation could prevent a devastating scam.
Put a stop to elder-targeted scams
We’ve all seen heartbreaking stories of retirees and veterans losing their life savings to scammers. The impact is devastating – not only for the victims themselves but also for their families and friends.
It’s important to remember that anyone can fall victim to a scam. Older Australians are not more vulnerable because they are careless or gullible, but rather, scams are becoming more sophisticated and scams can change quickly.
That’s why spreading scam awareness is so vital. Talk openly with your friends, parents, grandparents, and elderly neighbours. Share what you know, listen to their concerns, and encourage them to pause and check before acting on suspicious calls, texts, or emails.
Stopping scams takes collective effort. We must all do our part to spread awareness about scams and watch over those more likely to be victimised. Together, we can help protect each other from falling prey to scammers.