Older Australians lost $53 million to scams last year, with one in four people saying they have either been targeted themselves or know someone who has been scammed online.
Experts say the real figure may be much higher, as many people feel embarrassed to admit they have fallen victim.
“Unfortunately, it is a matter of when, not if, that you can fall victim to these things,” said Jacki Muir, Director of ID Support NSW.
With scammers increasingly targeting seniors, representatives from ID Support visited communities across the region as part of the 2026 Seniors Festival, helping locals recognise scams and protect their identity online.
Last week, around 40 community organisations gathered at Dee Why RSL to provide information and support for older residents on a vast range of topics.
“We love coming out to events like this and hearing the stories of people that have actually experienced this,” said Muir.
“Once we hear their stories, we can educate others better.”
ID Support NSW was established in 2021 following the Service NSW data breach the year prior, which exposed the personal information of over 100,000 people and highlighted the lack of central support for those affected by identity theft.
“We support people that have been victims of scams, identity theft or data compromise,” said Muir.
“We go to lots of libraries and different sessions, and we will talk about what to look out for.
“People come out of them going, ‘I am terrified, I can’t touch anything’, and that is not what we are here for.
“We talk about having a healthy level of scepticism.”
Anyone who contacts the service is assigned a caseworker who helps guide them through the process of securing their identity and recovering from the scam.
The organisation also works with government agencies and businesses following a data breach, helping to notify affected individuals.
Some of the most common scams include parcel delivery, overdue payments, investment opportunities, phishing, impersonation, romance and tech support.
“It is always really important to always stop before clicking any links,” said Muir
“The most common thing is that people do not believe it will happen to them.
“Scammers do not discriminate.
“It does not matter how old you are.”
Low digital competence remains a major factor in vulnerability to scams.
According to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index, people aged 75 and over have the lowest digital ability scores, sitting 32.1 points below the national average, while those aged 65 to 74 are 15.5 points below.
Programs like ID Support form part of the NSW Government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy, which aims to improve online confidence.
At community sessions, seniors can learn what support is available, test the strength of their passwords and receive one-on-one help improving their privacy settings.
Muir encouraged people to use pass-phrases instead of simple passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, install antivirus software and regularly back up their devices.
She also urged anyone who suspects they have been scammed to seek help immediately.
“Get straight onto your banks,” she said.
“They are very good at picking up fraudulent transactions.”
Local resident Alice Chua said she had not been personally targeted but knew people who had.
“Praise God I have not been.
“But I do know of people who have been scammed,” the 75-year-old said.
“They seem to target the seniors because they are not so tech savvy.”
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said education was key.
“The world of technology is changing really fast.
“We want to make sure we empower our locals as much as possible to keep them safe and to enjoy the experience, because there is so many wonderful things you can learn online.”
ID Support NSW provides assistance via phone at 1800 001 040.
Advisors are available Monday to Friday, 9AM – 5PM.
You can also submit an online form 24/7 or access support through their website.
