Emma Pritchard

When local woman Tracey Burke received a panicked phone call from her elderly father late last year, she immediately feared the worst.

But while she was relieved to hear her parents, aged 89 and 79, were physically safe, she was horrified to learn they were being repeatedly harassed by scammers.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, Ms Burke is concerned there will be an increase in the number of elderly Australians targeted by scammers in 2022, and she is warning families to remain vigilant.

“My parents were constantly getting phone calls from unknown sources telling them they had issues with their bank accounts, their home insurance and even misleading information about their medical records,” she said.

“It was very stressful for them.

“They are very trusting people, and some of the scammers were so artful they had my parents believing they were genuine.

“My dad almost gave one mystery caller his bank account details because they were so convincing and frightened my dad into thinking he would be in trouble if he didn’t comply.

“Thankfully, the line cut out, which was a blessing because it saved him from being conned, and that was when he called me in tears and told me what had been going on.”

While a follow up phone call to their local bank confirmed her dad’s account had not been impacted, Ms Burke said she spoke with her parents at length about the dangers associated with scams.

“I also wrote a big list pointing out what they need to be wary of and stuck it on the wall beside the phone so they can use it as a reminder,” she said.

“People are vulnerable at the moment because Covid-19 is making life hard, especially for the elderly, and I think they’re at a higher risk of being targeted by scammers because they’re not as savvy with technology, they can easily be persuaded, and their emotions can also be taken advantage of.

“I’d like to encourage everyone who has an elderly relative, or even a neighbour, to speak to them about the dangers of scams so they know what to look out for.”

Statistics released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have revealed Australians lost close to $240 million to scams in 2021 with residents aged 65 and above accounting for the highest losses.

For the latest scam warnings and to report scams, please visit www.scamwatch.com.au

Top tips to help you identify and avoid scams:

• If you cannot confirm the origins of an email, phone call or text message, do not open, reply or share personal information with the sender.
• Scammers will often appeal to your emotions and create a sense of urgency to encourage you to respond to their requests and try and pressure you into replying.
• If you receive an alert detailing information about your accounts or internet, always contact your bank or service provider directly for confirmation.
• Scammers will often ask for payment upfront.
• Watch for spelling mistakes and poor grammar.