Australians over 50 are struggling to keep pace with an increasingly deceptive digital environment, with new research showing widespread exposure to scams and a steep erosion of trust in information. The Australian Seniors Scams Report 2025 found more than four in five people in this age group have encountered or fallen victim to a scam, while a similar proportion say it is now harder to trust news and information than it was one or two years ago.
Despite this growing uncertainty, most still take online content at face value. Seven in ten admit they sometimes assume material is real without checking, and only one in seven routinely verifies claims before believing or sharing them.
The confusion is straining relationships, with almost two in five Generation X respondents reporting disagreements over misinformation.
Experts say advances in artificial intelligence are fuelling the problem.
Associate Professor Lennon Chang (pictured), from Deakin University, says cybercriminals now use AI to generate convincing fake voices, images and emails designed to pressure victims.
He says these tools have made traditional phishing and impersonation scams far more sophisticated.
In the past year, nearly two thirds of older Australians believe they have been targeted.
Phone calls and email remain the most frequent points of contact, followed by text messages.
Parcel delivery scams, overdue payment hoaxes and impersonation attempts are the most common, and one in four have faced an AI-driven scam.
About one in five have lost money, including a small but significant group who reported losses above fifty thousand dollars.
The emotional impact is pronounced. Many say they feel less safe or more vulnerable as AI blurs the boundaries between real and fabricated content.
Professor Chang urges people to slow down, verify unexpected requests and report scams, arguing that stronger awareness is the most effective protection.
