NEARLY one in five older Victorians has fallen victim to an online scam.
Last year alone, more than 7000 over-55s complained to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), having lost more than $4.5 million to cyber fraud. Complaints by over-55s comprised around 45 per cent of all scam reports across Australian in 2016.
To help protect older Victorians from cyber fraud, the state government has launched a new awareness campaign that brings together CAV, Crime Stoppers Victoria, the Council on the Ageing Victoria and the Public Libraries Victoria Network to help older Victorians identify and avoid online scams.
The campaign will allow seniors to attend education sessions at their local participating public library and put their knowledge to the test through the CAV Scams Quiz.
A recent survey showed 98 per cent of respondents had received a scam invitation and 18 per cent had fallen for a scam.
Email is the leading channel for scammers, while 38 per cent of all victims lost money as a result of being scammed.
"Becoming internet savvy is opening doors for older Victorians to keep in touch with family and friends and a whole lot more. But unfortunately it exposes them to scammers," said Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz.
To try the quiz and read stories of victims go to consumer.vic.gov.au/scamsavvy
To report a scam call 1300-558-181.
