Urgent warning: Senior Cards scam targeting older Australians

Key points:

• An urgent scam alert was recently announced in South Australia, targeting older Australians who want to apply for Seniors Cards 
• South Australian Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well Nat Cook described the fraudulent website as ‘deceptive’
• Older Australians reported more than 3,660 scams to Scamwatch in December 2024

An urgent scam warning has been issued in South Australia, with an illegal website targeting older Australians across the nation.

The illegal website — called the Senior Assistant — claims to provide application packages and consultation services for older Australians who apply for a Seniors Card in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. However, Seniors Cards across Australia are free.

In December 2024, older Australians reported more than $10.3 million dollars in losses to scammers, emphasising the value of double-checking a website before paying.

South Australian Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well Nat Cook explained why older Australians should remain vigilant when sending money online for products or services.

“These fraudulent websites are not only deceptive but they also heartlessly target some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” she said.

“The South Australian Seniors Card is always free of charge and you will never be asked to disclose your financial details when applying for a Seniors Card.

“[…] If someone is asking for payment, it’s a scam.

“If you encounter a site asking for payment, report it immediately. it’s not just wrong, it’s illegal.”

Visit the Scamwatch website to report a scam or if you suspect a scammer has tried to contact you. Additionally, you may need to file a police report if you have lost money through a scammer.

With so many websites available on the internet, it might seem difficult to know where you can safely apply for a Seniors Card, but it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re looking to get a Seniors Card, visit the following websites to apply for the card relevant to your state or territory:

• Australian Capital Territory — Council on the Ageing ACT;
• New South Wales — Service NSW;
• Victoria — Victorian Government; 
• Queensland — Queensland Government;
• South Australia — Seniors Card SA; 
• Western Australia — WA Seniors Card Centre; 
• Tasmania — Tasmanian Government; or
• Northern Territory — Council on the Ageing NT.

Eligibility criteria for the Seniors Card vary slightly between Australian states and territories.

If you are applying for a Seniors Card, you must be a permanent resident of Australia and reside in the state or territory where you are applying for a Seniors Card.

The minimum age for a Seniors Card is 60 years across Australia, except in Western Australia where you must be 65 years or older to apply. 

In the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, you cannot work more than 20 hours per week. In Western Australia, you cannot work more than 25 hours per week.

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland each have different types of Seniors Cards, depending on the applicants’ weekly working hours.

While the South Australian Government urged people to be vigilant when applying for their Seniors Card, other types of scams also aim to steal your well-earned money.

The Australian Government recently highlighted other recent scams, including those in which a criminal pretends to be an aged care provider to steal money from you. 

The Department of Health and Aged Care has provided suggestions on how to protect yourself from being a target of aged care provider scams including:

• not clicking on links or sending money unless you are sure the message is from your aged care provider;
• contacting your aged care provider using a number you’ve found yourself to check if the aged care provider was trying to contact you; and
• calling your aged care provider to ensure you have the correct details before sending money.

Read more about protecting yourself from scams all year round by visiting this Aged Care Guide: being wary of scams and sharing your personal information.

Scamwatch recently released an advertisement in collaboration with the Australian Government to demonstrate other examples of possible scams.

Out of 3,662 scams reported by older Australians in December 2024, 1,063 were from New South Wales, 918 were from Victoria and 738 were from Queensland. 

In the same month, scammers contacted 67 percent of victims by email. Text messages and phone calls were also among the top methods of contact.

Test your knowledge of scams by completing the Scamwatch quiz or reading the Little Book of Scams for free.

Have you applied for your Seniors Card yet?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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