4 in 5 Australians aged over 50+ Have Encountered a Scam - Here’s What to Look Out For

84% of Australians aged 50+ surveyed said they had encountered or been a victim of a scam. That’s more than 4 in 5 five people!

These shocking statistics are from the most recent Australian Seniors Scam Report, published in November 2025.

After years of working in technology consulting and cybersecurity, I’ve seen how quickly online threats can evolve. But these figures show just how much scams have become part of everyday life for Australians.

So, what should we be looking out for?

Auspost or parcel delivery scams (47%) and overdue payment scams (40%) top the list of most common scams, followed by phishing/impersonation (36%), ATO/MyGov scams (34%), and tech support scams (25%).

The official report also flagged how scam messages often sound urgent. By the way, if you’re interested to read this Australian Seniors Scam report in full, the link can be found here: https://www.seniors.com.au/documents/whitepaper-scams-report-2025.pdf

The official report also flagged how scam messages often sound urgent. Interestingly, scammers commonly use urgency as a tactic to encourage us to act before we’ve had time to think. With 1 in 4 respondents also reporting experiencing an AI-driven scam, recognising what’s genuine isn’t always as straightforward as it once was.

That’s why one of my favourite pieces of advice is incredibly simple:

Stop. Check. Then act.

If your bank calls unexpectedly, breathe, take a moment, then contact the bank independently before giving out information. If a family member messages from a new number asking for money, check with them another way (call them!). And if something simply doesn’t feel right, ask somebody you trust.

Unfortunately, the consequences can be significant. The report showed more than one in five (22%) respondents reported losing money or assets to scams, with some losses reaching $10,000 or more.

But I don’t share these numbers to make people frightened of technology. Quite the opposite. Technology can help us stay connected with family, maintain our independence and make everyday life easier. The answer isn’t to stop using it - it’s to feel confident using it safely.

That's something I regularly talk about when helping people with technology here on the Sunshine Coast.

You don't need to understand every new scam or become a cybersecurity expert... A few good habits can make an enormous difference.

So slow things down, ask questions and never feel embarrassed about checking or asking questions.