What are scams?
Defined by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; scams happen when criminals deceive people to steal their money or personal details.
How/why do scammers target older people?
Scammers are getting more sophisticated and skilled at targeting older adults. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that in the 12 months prior to survey in 2014-15, over half of Australians aged 55 and over were exposed to at least one scam. For the 6 million Australians aged 55 and over, the victimisation rate was highest for computer support scams. Scammers may presume older Australians are less computer savvy and may lack digital literacy in comparison to younger people who have grown up with phones, social media, and performing everyday admin tasks online.
According to the Australian Carers guide, some common scams targeting older people include:
- Dating & romance
- Investment scams
- Unexpected prize & lottery scams
- Inheritance scams
- Rebate scams
How can you protect yourself from scammers?
The Australian Carers Guide share some helpful ways to protect yourself from scams inluding:
- Do not allow people online to pressure you into a decision.
- Be suspicious of any requests for money. Scammers will often ask you to use an unusual payment method like iTunes gift cards or virtual currency.
- Don’t respond to phone calls or emails offering financial advice or opportunities.
- Be wary of people you meet on social media or online dating sites who after just a few contacts profess strong feelings for you and try to move you away from the site and communicate via chat or email.
- Be suspicious of unexpected emails or letters advising you how to claim an inheritance or competition prize.
The Department of Health and Aged Care also provide some helpful advice, specifically for when scammers are impersonating your aged care provider;
- always stop and check the person is genuine before clicking on links, sharing personal details, or sending money.
- if you’re unsure about a situation or a request, contact your aged care provider using contact details you’ve found yourself on an official source such as their website.
- call and confirm your aged care provider, using details you’ve found independently, before transferring any money.
- if something feels wrong, stop the transaction or conversation.
What should you do if you have been scammed?
The Australian Government and Scam Watch recommends that you contact your bank immediately to report the scam and stop any transactions to the scammer. You can also report the scam to Scam Watch to prevent others from suffering losses. If you are at risk of identity misuse you can also contact IDCARE for help.
We hope this guidance was helpful to our community and you can read more about scams to look out for and what to do if you have been scammed on the following sites.
Stay safe!
