Scammers don’t want you to have time to think.
The message says your bank account has been compromised. A caller claims there’s something wrong with your computer. An investment opportunity is disappearing fast, or someone you care about suddenly needs money.
The story changes, but the pressure is no accident. The National Anti-Scam Centre says scammers repeatedly rely on three tactics: impersonation, urgency and emotion. Scamwatch
Australians aged 65 and over reported $88.8 million in scam losses during 2025, the highest total of any age group and 26.5 per cent of all losses reported to Scamwatch. Investment scams alone accounted for $50.8 million in reported losses among over-65s.
But anyone can be caught. Intelligence, education, technical expertise and life experience are no guarantee against increasingly sophisticated scammers.
Starts at 60 is pleased to welcome IT integrator and cybersecurity specialist Bora Seker as our new monthly columnist. In Ask Bora, he’ll tackle the cybersecurity, scam and online-safety questions that matter to you, cutting through the jargon with practical advice you can actually use.
Got a question for Bora? Send it our way to askbora@startsat60.com and it could feature in an upcoming column.
For his first contribution, Bora has a simple way of thinking about scammers: “Keep the chain on.”
“If a bloke in a hi-vis vest knocked on your front door claiming to be from the gas company and demanded to come inside immediately, you wouldn’t just throw the door open,” he says.
“You’d keep the chain on, ask for ID or call the company yourself to check. Scammers are doing much the same thing, except they’re knocking through your phone, email or text.”
So rather than another list of scams to fear, here are 10 things that make a scammer’s job considerably harder.
Urgency works because it discourages checking. Ignore the deadline you’ve been given and take a moment before handing over money or information.
A real problem will still be there in 10 minutes.
If an unexpected caller claims to represent your bank, telco, government or another trusted organisation, end the call.
Find the organisation’s number independently through its official website, app, statement or the back of your bank card.
Parcel waiting? Toll overdue? Bank account needs verifying?
Don’t use the link in the message. Open the organisation’s official app or find its website yourself. Scamwatch warns that links can lead to fake websites designed to steal money or information.
Before sending money or handing over sensitive information, talk to somebody you trust.
A partner, friend or family member isn’t caught up in the urgency of the moment and may notice something you haven’t.
A familiar company name, convincing website or caller ID proves very little these days.
Scammers can impersonate businesses and even spoof phone numbers and sender IDs. Check the story independently rather than relying on what appears on your screen.
Passwords, PINs and one-time security codes are the keys to your digital house.
Don’t hand them to an unexpected caller, no matter how convincing the story sounds.
Be extremely wary if an unexpected caller wants you to install software or give them remote access to your computer or phone.
That’s the digital equivalent of opening the front door and handing them the run of the house.
If someone tells you your money is in danger and must immediately be moved somewhere “safe”, stop.
Scamwatch says your bank will never ask you to open a new account to keep your money safe.
A polished website, impressive testimonials or familiar company name don’t make an investment genuine. AI is making fake investment material even more convincing.
ASIC recommends independently checking licences and authorisations and consulting its Investor Alert List. Importantly, not appearing on the alert list does not prove an investment is legitimate.
This is the time when speed really matters.
Contact your bank or card provider immediately, ask whether transactions can be stopped, secure affected accounts and change compromised passwords. Scamwatch also recommends IDCARE, Australia’s free identity and cyber support service.
Bora recommends adding another layer of protection wherever you can.
Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, requires another form of verification in addition to your password. Think of it as a digital deadbolt. If somebody gets hold of the key, there’s still another lock standing between them and your account.
It isn’t a licence to drop your guard, but it gives a scammer another barrier to overcome.
Bora’s front-door test may be the easiest rule of all to remember.
You wouldn’t let an unexpected stranger into your house simply because they knew your name, wore the right uniform and told you to hurry.
Treat your digital front door with the same caution.
A legitimate organisation can cope with you hanging up, taking five minutes and checking for yourself.
The scammer would much rather you didn’t.
Have you received a scam call, email or text that almost fooled you? Tell us about it in the comments — your experience could help another reader spot one.
Bora Seker is a Melbourne-based IT Service Provider who builds and secures systems, networks, Cybersecurity and awareness training, and cloud environments to protect thousands of clients, while also translating complex cyber threats into practical, common-sense advice for everyday people on the Podcast Dumb Ways to Get Hacked.
Comments 0
Join the conversation. Comments are reviewed before they appear.
Be the first to comment.
Join the conversation
Tell us who you are to post a comment. We'll remember you next time.