Older Australians seeking information on how to stay safe online, protect their identity and recognise a scam will be able to learn directly from the ID Support NSW experts at the NSW Seniors Festival Expo 2024 on 13 and 14 March.
The Expo is one of the signature events at the 2024 NSW Seniors Festival, which is one of the biggest gatherings for seniors in the state which provides an opportunity for older Australians to celebrate and connect. The theme this year is “Reach Beyond”.
According to Scamwatch, there were more than 70,000 reported scams from Australians over the age of 65 in 2023, reporting a loss of more than $120 million. This is more than any other age group and an increase of 66 per cent increase from 2022 to 2023.
In 2023, more than 4,300 people aged 65 and above reported their identity being stolen to ScamWatch, resulting in a total loss of $756,032.
Common incidents were remote access scams, investment scams, dating and romance scams as well as phishing.
Attendees who visit the ID Support NSW’s booth at the Seniors Festival Expo will be able to meet the ID Support team, learn what support is available from NSW Government, test the strength of their passwords and have 1:1 support to uplift their online security, improving privacy controls on their devices.
Customers can also test their passwords online and learn if it’s been involved in a data breach via the ID Support NSW Password Strength tester at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw/be-prepared/passwords
The NSW Seniors Festival will run from 11 to 24 March, with the Expo taking place on the 13 and 14 of March. For more information on the NSW Seniors Festival, visit website: www.seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au
NSW Government Chief Information and Digital Officer Laura Christie said:
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and it is more important than ever to recognise the signs of an impersonation scam and keep your identity protected.”
“Unfortunately, older Australian are often targeted by identity criminals as they may be unfamiliar with their tactics, or the technology used to deceive them.”
“ID Support NSW’s presence at the NSW Seniors Festival Expo is a great opportunity for older residents to meet with online safety experts, and to ask any questions or raised any concerns they have face-to-face.”
Contact details:
media@customerservice.nsw.gov.au | 0438 108 797