Scams remain one of the biggest financial and emotional threats facing people over 50. The most common scams targeting older Australians in 2025 range from unauthorized bank withdrawals and fake online shopping deals to investment fraud and identity theft.

According to the 2025 National Seniors Social Survey, conducted by National Seniors Australia, more than one in three older Australians report they have either been scammed or are unsure whether they were targeted.

Key findings from the 2025 National seniors survey

Australians lost over $318 million to scams in 2024, with nearly half of the losses affecting people aged 55 and over.
Financial stress increases vulnerability: 47% of those feeling “very tight” financially reported being scammed.
Health matters: 43% of people in poor or very poor health had experienced scams, compared to 29% in good or excellent health.
70% of victims who contacted their bank recovered all their money, and another 19% recovered some funds or received support.

As part of the survey, respondents were asked a direct question:
“Have you ever been the victim of online fraud or a scam where you lost money or had your identity used fraudulently?”

Beyond the yes-or-no answers, many participants shared detailed comments about their experiences. Those responses helped identify eight main types of scams affecting older Australians, along with a handful of less common variations.

What are the most common scams targeting older Australians in 2025?

Funds taken without authorisation
Sold a non-existent, overpriced or dodgy item
The scammer pretended to be a known business
A security warning popped up on the screen
Investment too good to be true
Identity stolen to scam others
MyGov or Centrelink account hacked
The scammer pretended to be a family member or a friend

Most common scams targeting older Australians in 2025

1. Funds taken without authorisation

This was the most commonly reported scam. In these cases, victims did not knowingly take any unusual or risky action. They were simply using their cards or making normal electronic transactions when money was removed from their account.

Many did not know how scammers obtained their card or banking details. A related version involved criminals accessing non-bank payment accounts such as PayPal, eBay, Amazon, iTunes, or frequent flyer accounts and transferring money out without permission.

2. Sold non-existent, overpriced, or dodgy item

In this type of scam, people believed they were making a normal online purchase. The item either never arrived, was very different from what was advertised, or turned out to be of poor quality.

Some victims were:

Charged more than expected
Charged multiple times
Signed up to subscriptions instead of making a one-off purchase

The transactions often occurred on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree, or through fake websites posing as well-known retailers.

3. Scammer pretended to be a known business

Scammers contacted victims while pretending to represent a trusted organization, such as a bank, telco, energy provider, Australia Post, or a government agency.

Most contacts began with a phone call or SMS, but in other cases, it was an email containing a fake invoice or toll notice. In other cases, a legitimate invoice was intercepted and altered, with the bank details changed so the payment went to the scammer instead of the real business.

Victims often described the scammers as friendly, confident, and well-informed. That familiarity helped build trust, making it easier for scammers to persuade people to transfer money or provide account access.

4. A security warning popped up on the screen

This scam begins with a frightening message appearing on a computer screen, sometimes accompanied by loud sounds or a voice warning. The message claims to be from Microsoft or another legitimate company and urges the user to call a support number. That number connects directly to scammers.

Victims may be told:

Their device is infected
Not to turn off the computer
To pay a fee to “fix” the issue
To follow the steps that give remote access

Nothing is actually wrong with the device. The warning is fake, but the pressure feels very real in the moment.

5. Investment too good to be true

In these scams, older Australians invested in what appeared to be a strong financial opportunity. Some were shown convincing dashboards suggesting their money was growing. However, when they tried to withdraw funds, they were blocked.

Others were encouraged to keep investing to “unlock” profits or complete training programs, only to lose more money. Around half of these cases involved cryptocurrency, including bitcoin. Some scams used fake celebrity endorsements to increase credibility.

6. Identity stolen to scam others

Some victims had their email accounts hacked, and messages were sent to their contacts requesting money or gift cards. Others had their social media profiles taken over and used for fraudulent activity. In certain cases, loans or subscriptions were taken out in the victim’s name, leaving them to deal with unexpected bills later.

7. MyGov or Centrelink account hacked

Some victims had their MyGov accounts accessed without their knowledge.

Scammers used stolen login details to file false tax returns or redirect pension and Centrelink payments to their own accounts. In some cases, victims only realized something was wrong when expected payments did not arrive.

8. Scammer pretended to be family or friend

Victims received messages that appeared to come from an adult child, grandchild, or close friend asking for urgent financial help. Believing the message was genuine, many acted quickly.

In other cases, a hacked email account was used to request support or promote a new “opportunity.” Several victims mentioned they were distracted or busy at the time, which made it easier to respond without fully verifying the request.

How you can reduce the risk of scams

There are still practical steps that can significantly reduce your risk and improve your chances of recovering money if something does go wrong.

Tell your bank immediately

Even if you feel embarrassed or unsure, it’s better to report it straight away. Banks deal with scams every day, and speed matters. Acting quickly gives you the best possible chance of freezing transactions, topping further payments, and recovering lost funds.

Report scams, even if you can’t recover the money

Even if the financial loss cannot be reversed, reporting the scam still matters. You can submit details through the Australian Government’s Scamwatch “report a scam” page. Your report helps authorities identify and warn about new scam trends and shut down fraudulent websites and ads.

Use tools to check suspicious messages or links

If you receive a message, listing, or link that feels unusual, it’s wise to verify it before responding.

Free tools such as Bitdefender Scamio can analyze suspicious content and help identify common scam patterns. You can also check unknown URLs using Bitdefender Link Checker before clicking. These types of tools add an extra layer of reassurance, especially when a message appears urgent or emotional.

Consider ongoing protection for the whole family

Scams often spread through families. A Bitdefender Family Plan includes tools such as Scam Protection, along with device protection, email security, a Premium VPN, and digital identity monitoring.

Having protection across multiple devices can help reduce the risk of account takeovers, phishing attempts, and identity misuse, particularly for households supporting older relatives.

Take a look at one of our family plans.

FAQs

Why are older Australians often targeted by scammers?

Scammers target older Australians because many have accumulated savings, superannuation, or assets. They may also be more trusting of official-looking messages or less familiar with rapidly evolving digital scam tactics.

What should I do if I’ve been scammed in Australia?

Contact your bank immediately to try to stop or reverse the transaction. Then report the scam to the Australian Government’s Scamwatch website. Acting quickly improves the chances of recovering money.

Can banks recover money lost to scams?

In many cases, yes. Survey findings show that most victims who reported scams to their bank were able to recover some or all of their lost funds, especially when they acted quickly.

MyGov account was hacked. What should I do?

If you believe your MyGov account has been hacked, act immediately. Log in (if possible) and change your password. Enable multi-factor authentication. Check whether your bank details, contact information, or linked services (such as the ATO or Centrelink) have been altered. Contact MyGov support and your bank right away. You should also report the incident to Scamwatch.

8 most common scams targeting senior Australians in 2025