Spotting a scam is only half the battle, new research reveals

Older Australians are often portrayed as being more vulnerable to scams because they struggle to identify them. However, new research from CommBank's Behavioural Science Centre of Excellence paints a more nuanced picture.

Behavioural science research about over 65s

The research found Australians aged 65 and over were the strongest performers when put to the test, correctly identifying mock scam versus non-scam investment opportunities 64% of the time – compared to those aged 18-24 years old (60%).

Yet despite being relatively good at spotting scams, older Australians continue to be disproportionately impacted. According to Scamwatch, while people aged 65 and over make up around 17.1 per cent of the population, they account for 26.5% of all reported scam losses in 2025.¹

CommBank’s research suggests older Australians are often able to spot scams but are less likely to check information or seek a second opinion before acting.

CommBank Behavioural Scientist Caitlin Court said: “Our research suggests those over 65 are not less able to spot scams, but they are less likely to seek a second option when they are encountering a possible scam. That’s where a lot of scams can still succeed.”

Among scam victims aged 65 and over who did not carry out their own research or checks, more than half (53%) said they did not think it was necessary – the highest of any age group. Among those who didn't seek help, more than half (51%) said it was because they thought they could handle it themselves – again the highest of any age group.

Scam victims aged 65 and over were also less likely to speak to someone before realising it was a scam, with only 4.7% doing so compared with 7% across all age groups.

Ms Court said the findings challenge some common assumptions about scam vulnerability.

"One of the more interesting findings was that older Australians were the strongest performers at spotting scams. The challenge wasn't spotting them – it was taking that extra step to independently verify information or seek a second opinion before deciding on whether to proceed."

Ms Court said many scams are designed to feel legitimate and routine, making people more likely to rely on instinct alone.

"Some scams don't feel suspicious at all. They can look completely legitimate. That's why it's important to pause and double-check before sending money or sharing information."

In-the-community cross-sector education

The findings were discussed at a seniors’ scam awareness event hosted by Federal Member for Parramatta, Hon Dr Andrew Charlton, which recently brought together representatives from CommBank, NSW Police, National Seniors Australia and local community members.

This included focusing on practical ways older Australians can help protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.

National Seniors Australia CEO, Mr Chris Grice, said: “It’s incredibly important to help keep seniors “scam safe”. The scam environment is forever evolving and changing, so it is imperative  seniors engage in their communities and learn from others what sort of scams are out there to best identify and protect against them.”

The Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP says a lot of people can find it very confusing to know how they get the right information to understand what is a scam and what isn’t.

“The purpose of the event was to help make sure that people get access to the information that they need. We had Commonwealth Bank talking about scams, as well as NSW Police and National Seniors Australia and representatives from the local council talking about all the services available to seniors,” Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP said. 

CommBank’s Executive General Manager for Fraud and Scams, James Robertssaid the research reinforced a simple but important message.

"One of the biggest mistakes people make is trusting something that seems legitimate without checking the details. Even if something looks legitimate, it's worth taking a moment to make sure the person or organisation is genuine," said Mr Roberts.

“Some of the trends we’re seeing recently are remote access scams and other impersonation scams. Here the individual is contacted by a person pretending to be someone else, often a bank or other institution. They may receive a call unsolicited, out of the blue, and there is often a sense of urgency and a call to action,” NSW Police Detective Seargent Connaire McCashin said.

Mr Roberts said the findings reflected what his team sees every day.

Nearly one in four scam victims over 65 (22%) in CommBank’s Behavioural Science research said they suspected something was wrong but went ahead anyway.

Mr Roberts spoke about one recent example involving an older Australian who came across a cryptocurrency investment opportunity through a sponsored social media advertisement.

After being directed to a messaging platform and what appeared to be a legitimate online trading service, she initially invested a small amount of money. The scammers then returned some funds to her account to build trust and encourage further investment.

Looking back, the customer said she had doubts at the time but continued because the opportunity appeared legitimate and money had already been returned to her account.

The case reflects the broader finding from the research: scam victims don't always proceed because they miss warning signs – many proceed despite having doubts, after scammers use trust, familiarity and small signs of legitimacy to encourage further engagement.

Mr Roberts said the most effective protection is often the simplest.

"Before sending money or responding to an unexpected request, take a moment to stop, check and talk to someone you trust. It only takes a minute, but it could save you thousands of dollars."

The research reinforces a simple message for older Australians and their families: don't rely on instinct alone. Make verification part of your routine.

Stop. Check. Reject.

¹ Report of the National Anti-Scam Centre on scams data and activity, 2025