Australian seniors face unprecedented scam threat as trust declines and AI deception accelerates

Australians over 50 are navigating an increasingly hostile digital environment, with new research revealing a sharp erosion of trust in information alongside record exposure to scams. As artificial intelligence makes deception more sophisticated, older Australians are being placed at growing financial, emotional and social risk.

According to the Australian Seniors Scams Report 2025, more than four in five older Australians (84%) have encountered or been victims of a scam, while a similar proportion (83%) say it is harder to trust news and information now than it was just one to two years ago.

The findings point to a troubling disconnect: despite widespread concern, many older Australians remain vulnerable to misinformation and online deception.

Trust in information at breaking point

The report shows that 83% of Australians aged over 50 find it harder to trust news and information compared to recent years, with 43% saying it is much harder and a further 41% somewhat harder.

Despite this decline in trust, risky behaviours persist. Seven in ten respondents (71%) admit they still sometimes assume online content is real without checking, while only 15% say they regularly fact-check information before believing or sharing it.

Misinformation is also straining personal relationships. Almost two in five Generation X Australians aged 50–58 (39%) report that disagreements over news or misinformation have caused tension in their relationships, either occasionally or frequently.

Scams are widespread and increasingly sophisticated

Scam activity remains pervasive. Nearly two thirds of older Australians (63%) believe they were targeted by a scam in the past year alone, most commonly via phone calls (73%), emails (70%) and SMS messages (59%).

Overall, 84% have encountered or fallen victim to a scam at some point. The most common types include parcel delivery scams (47%), overdue payment scams (40%), and phishing or impersonation scams (36%).

One in four respondents (25%) report experiencing an AI-related scam, most often through AI-generated phishing emails (15%), followed by financial scams (8%) and deepfake content (6%).

The financial impact is significant. Around one in five seniors (22%) have lost money to a scam. While most losses were under $1,000, 3% reported losing more than $50,000. Alarmingly, 16% of those who lost money did not report the incident to any organisation, limiting opportunities for recovery and broader prevention.

Among those who did report a scam, 56% contacted their bank, 21% contacted Scamwatch, and 19% reported the incident to police.

AI is accelerating deception and confusion

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a major driver of declining trust. Nearly two in five older Australians (38%) say they have encountered AI-generated images, videos or news articles they initially believed were real, while a further 31% are unsure whether they have — suggesting the true figure may be even higher.

Confidence in detecting AI-generated content is low. More than half of respondents (51%) believe all forms of AI-generated content are equally difficult to identify. Altered photos of real people (20%) and AI-generated people who do not exist (18%) were seen as the hardest to spot.

Nearly nine in ten older Australians (88%) feel they are being left behind when it comes to understanding AI and its risks. This is particularly evident with voice scams, where 42% lack confidence in their ability to distinguish a real voice from an AI-generated one over the phone.

Practical tests included in the survey reinforce this vulnerability. More than half of respondents failed to correctly identify a real celebrity image, 47% misidentified a fake rocket image, and 57% failed to spot a fake frog image.

Associate Professor Lennon Chang, Cyber Risk and Policy at Deakin University, warns that AI has transformed the scam landscape.

“AI and deepfake technology are now being used to make scams look far more real,” he says. “We’re seeing AI-generated voices mimicking loved ones, hyper-realistic phishing emails, and fabricated images or videos designed to create urgency. These tools make old scams much more convincing, which is why AI-driven impersonation and financial scams are among the fastest-growing threats in Australia.”

Emotional impact and rising anxiety

Beyond financial losses, the emotional toll on older Australians is substantial. More than four in five respondents (83%) say they are worried about scams, with 29% saying they are very concerned.

Among those who have encountered or been victims of scams, nearly half (48%) report feeling less safe and secure, while 36% say they have become more cautious and alert in their daily lives. AI-driven deception has also increased uncertainty, with 38% saying it has made them less confident about what is real online and 37% feeling more vulnerable to scams.

While many older Australians actively seek information from trusted sources such as banks (47%) and government websites (46%), 14% say they do not seek out scam prevention information at all — highlighting a persistent gap in awareness and engagement.

What needs to change

Chang says vigilance and verification are critical.

“The best defence is slowing down and checking the source,” he says. “If you receive an unexpected call, email or message asking for money or personal information, verify it through an official channel you find yourself, or speak with family and friends. Reporting scams helps authorities understand how criminals operate and makes it harder for them to succeed.”

For the aged care and ageing sectors, the findings are a clear warning. As scams and misinformation continue to evolve, older Australians need targeted education, stronger safeguards and practical support to navigate an increasingly deceptive digital environment.

The Australian Seniors Scams Report 2025 reinforces a stark reality: trust is eroding faster than digital confidence is growing, and without coordinated action, older Australians will remain disproportionately exposed to harm.