Protecting Elderly Family Members from Scams

These aren't just statistics. Behind each number is someone's parent or grandparent who lost retirement savings, someone who trusted the wrong person, someone who fell victim to increasingly sophisticated criminal operations specifically targeting seniors through social media platforms, phone calls, and convincing fake websites. The scale of this problem demands that families take proactive steps to protect elderly loved ones before scammers reach them.

Why Seniors Are Targeted

Scammers specifically target older Australians for calculated reasons:

Common Scams Targeting Seniors

How to Protect Your Elderly Parents or Grandparents

Set up SafeAus Family Network to help protect elderly family members. When they check a message with SafeAus, you can share scam alerts to keep everyone informed. The privacy-first design means message content is never shared, only scam type and risk level. This protects their privacy while still allowing the family to coordinate protection against scams. If your mother receives a suspicious myGov message and checks it with SafeAus, she can choose to alert the family that myGov scams are circulating without revealing the message contents.

Have open conversations about scams without judgment. Talk about scams as a normal topic, not something shameful. Make it clear they can always ask for help verifying messages without being criticised or treated like they're incapable. Frame it as criminals getting more sophisticated, not seniors getting less capable. This open communication is the foundation of protection because it means they'll actually come to you when something feels wrong instead of trying to handle it alone out of pride or fear.

Install SafeAus on their phone and show them how to check suspicious messages before responding. Walk through the process together several times so it becomes familiar. Explain that checking takes seconds and could save thousands of dollars. Make it as easy as possible by setting up the app and saving it to their home screen where they can find it quickly.

Create a family code word that family members can use to verify their identity in emergencies. Choose something memorable but not easily guessed. Tell elderly family members that any real family emergency will include this code word, and any request for money without the code word should be treated as a scam. This simple system defeats voice cloning scams and "Hi Mum" impersonations. When someone calls claiming to be their grandchild in trouble, they can ask for the code word before sending money.

Help them enable multi-factor authentication on banking and government accounts. Sit with them and set this up on their most important accounts. Use authenticator apps rather than SMS when possible, as SMS can be intercepted. This adds a critical layer of protection that prevents scammers from accessing accounts even if they steal passwords through phishing.

With their permission, help review bank statements regularly for suspicious activity. This isn't about controlling their finances but about catching fraud early. Small unauthorised charges often precede larger theft as scammers test whether stolen card details work. Catching these early prevents major losses and helps identify compromised accounts quickly.

Help them adjust social media privacy settings and avoid posting personal information publicly. Show them how to limit who can see their posts and personal details. Scammers mine social media for information to make scams more convincing, learning names of grandchildren, recent activities, or financial situations. Locked-down profiles provide less ammunition for personalised fraud attempts.

Be their sounding board for financial decisions, especially investments. Encourage them to check with you before making financial decisions, particularly investments or large purchases prompted by unexpected contact. Make it clear this isn't about doubting their judgment but about getting a second opinion on opportunities that might be too good to be true. Scammers hate when victims consult family because outside perspective often reveals obvious fraud that victims can't see through the fog of manipulation.

Save important contact numbers in their phone with clear labels so they know the real number for their bank, myGov, Medicare, and other critical services. When they receive a suspicious call claiming to be from their bank, they can hang up and call back using the saved number they know is legitimate. This defeats caller ID spoofing and impersonation scams.

Help them register for the Do Not Call Register and sign up for official email or app notifications instead of relying on mail. This reduces exposure to scam calls and mail-based fraud. Many legitimate services now offer secure app-based notifications that are harder for scammers to fake than letters or phone calls.

Teaching Seniors to Recognise Scams

Teach your elderly family members a simple checklist to use before responding to any unexpected contact. The "STOP and Think" method gives them a framework for evaluating suspicious communications when you're not available to help.

S stands for Slow down. Scammers create urgency because they don't want you thinking clearly. They claim accounts will be closed, loved ones are in danger, or opportunities will disappear within hours. Legitimate organizations give you time. Real emergencies involving family members can be verified by calling them directly. Real financial opportunities will still exist tomorrow after you've had time to research and consult family.

T stands for Talk to someone. Call a trusted family member before making decisions, especially about money. A quick conversation with a child or grandchild often reveals obvious fraud that wasn't apparent to the person being targeted. Scammers try to isolate victims and discourage consultation, which itself is a red flag. Any legitimate opportunity survives discussion with family.

O stands for Official channels only. Hang up and call back using the official number from the website or your card. Don't use the number the caller provides or click links in messages. This simple habit defeats most phone and email scams. If your bank really needs to talk to you, they'll be happy to receive your call back on the official number. If someone gets angry when you say you'll call back on the official number, that anger confirms it's a scam.

P stands for Protect your information. Never give out passwords, PINs, or remote access to your computer. Real tech support doesn't need your password. Real banks don't need your PIN. Real government agencies don't need remote access to your computer. These requests always indicate scams, regardless of how official the caller sounds or how legitimate their supposed reason seems.

Red Flags to Watch For

Unexpected calls, emails, or messages asking for personal information should immediately trigger suspicion. Legitimate organizations don't contact you out of the blue requesting passwords, account details, or payment information. If you didn't initiate the contact, be extremely cautious about providing any information.

Requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer are virtually always scams. No legitimate business or government agency accepts payment this way. Gift cards are favored by scammers because transactions can't be reversed and are difficult to trace. If anyone asks you to buy iTunes cards or Google Play cards to pay a bill, resolve a problem, or claim a prize, it's a scam.

Pressure to act immediately or threats of consequences indicate fraud. Real organizations give you time. Artificial urgency is manufactured to prevent you from thinking critically or consulting others. Whether it's threats of arrest, account closure, or missed opportunities, the pressure itself reveals the scam.

Too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities or prizes mean scams. If you didn't enter a competition, you haven't won a prize. If an investment promises guaranteed high returns with no risk, it's fraud. Legitimate investments carry risk and legitimate financial advisors explain those risks clearly rather than promising impossible returns.

Requests for remote access to computers should end conversations immediately. No legitimate tech support company cold-calls offering to fix problems you didn't report. Microsoft doesn't call about viruses. The NBN doesn't need remote access to your computer to fix your internet. These requests always precede theft or fraud.

Romance interests who ask for money but won't meet in person are running scams. Real relationships progress to in-person meetings. Someone who always has excuses for why they can't meet, can't video chat, or can't prove their identity while repeatedly requesting money is a criminal exploiting loneliness and affection for financial gain. Family members asking for money without video verification could be impersonators using voice cloning or text-based fraud.

What to Do If Your Loved One Has Been Scammed

If you discover an elderly family member has been scammed, act with compassion and urgency. Your response in this moment determines whether they trust you with problems in the future or hide things out of shame.

Don't blame them. Scams are sophisticated and can fool anyone. Shame prevents reporting and recovery. These are professional criminals using advanced technology and psychological manipulation. Getting scammed is not a sign of weakness or diminished capacity, it's a sign of being targeted by organised crime. Approach with empathy and focus on solutions rather than judgment.

Contact their bank immediately. Many banks have scam response teams that can stop or reverse transactions if contacted quickly enough. Call the number on the back of their card and explain the situation. Time is critical. Transactions caught within hours sometimes can be stopped or reversed, while those discovered days later rarely can be recovered.

Document everything. Save all messages, emails, receipts, and communication with the scammer. Take screenshots before anything disappears. This documentation is crucial for police reports, bank fraud claims, and potential recovery efforts. Details that seem unimportant might become critical evidence later.

Report to authorities through multiple channels. File reports with Scamwatch , ReportCyber , and local police. Each report adds to databases that help authorities track criminal operations and warn other Australians. Your report might be the piece of information that helps shut down a scam operation or catch criminals.

Contact IDCARE at 1800 595 160 for free identity theft support and recovery assistance. IDCARE specializes in helping scam victims navigate the recovery process. They create personalised response plans, help secure compromised accounts, and provide ongoing support. Their services are free and they understand the unique challenges elderly scam victims face.

Help them change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on all affected accounts. Secure everything the scammers might have accessed. If they provided their email password, assume scammers can see all their email. If they gave banking details, assume those accounts are compromised. Comprehensive security updates prevent further theft.

Monitor their accounts for further unauthorised activity over the coming months. Scammers sometimes make small test charges before attempting large theft. They might sell stolen information to other criminals who attack weeks later. Ongoing monitoring catches follow-up fraud attempts quickly.

Provide emotional support. Being scammed can be traumatic, especially for elderly victims who may fear family will see them as incapable of managing their own affairs. Reassure them this doesn't change how you view their independence. Consider professional counselling if they show signs of depression, anxiety, or withdrawal. The emotional impact often exceeds the financial loss.

Implement protective measures going forward. Set up SafeAus Family Protection, create the family code word system, and put other safeguards in place to prevent future scams. Frame this as protecting against increasingly sophisticated criminals rather than compensating for any failing on their part. Turn the experience into an opportunity to strengthen defences without making them feel diminished.

Resources for Seniors and Families

Several official support services provide assistance specifically for seniors and families dealing with scams. These organizations offer free resources, reporting channels, and recovery support.

Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au provides comprehensive information about current scams and reporting channels. Their site includes detailed guides on every major scam type and regular updates about new threats. You can report scams and find latest alerts specific to your region.

IDCARE at 1800 595 160 offers free identity theft support with specialists who understand the unique challenges elderly Australians face. They provide personalised recovery plans, help with securing compromised accounts, and ongoing support throughout the recovery process. Their services are confidential and specifically designed for Australian victims.

Services Australia Scams Helpdesk at 1800 941 126 assists specifically with scams involving government services like Centrelink, Medicare, and myGov. They can verify whether communications claiming to be from government agencies are legitimate and provide guidance on securing government accounts.

National Seniors Australia at nationalseniors.com.au provides scam awareness resources specifically designed for older Australians. Their materials use clear language and focus on practical protection strategies relevant to seniors' daily lives.

COTA Australia (Council on the Ageing) at cota.org.au advocates for older Australians and provides support resources including scam awareness programs. They work to influence policy and improve protections for seniors at a systemic level while providing practical help to individuals.

Stay Connected, Stay Protected

With $99.6 million lost by seniors in 2024 and losses continuing to rise, protecting elderly family members from scams requires a combination of education, technology, and ongoing support. The most important thing you can do is maintain open communication and make it easy for them to ask for help. SafeAus Family Protection helps you protect elderly parents and grandparents without invading their privacy. When they check a suspicious message, they can choose to share scam alerts with the family, keeping everyone informed and safe.

Remember: Scammers are professional criminals using sophisticated technology and psychological manipulation. Getting scammed is not a sign of weakness or diminished capacity, it's a sign of being targeted by organised crime. Approach the topic with empathy, patience, and ongoing support. The goal is not to take away independence but to provide tools and backup so elderly family members can confidently navigate an increasingly digital world filled with increasingly sophisticated threats. Your involvement, compassion, and proactive protection can prevent devastating financial and emotional losses.