Left behind in a digital world
- deansimpson7
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1
The United Nations International Day of Older Persons is celebrated each year on 1 October. This day highlights the important and valuable contributions that older people make in our community, as well as some of the challenges they face and the support they need to age with dignity, independence and inclusion. In Australia, there were approximately 4.4 million people aged 65 and over as of 2022, making up 17.1 per cent of the population. In this Viewpoint, Salvos Online journalist Anthony Castle writes about seniors ‘left behind’ in an increasingly digital world and how the Salvos, and others, are advocating for those older people targeted and excluded by new technologies.
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Nancy considered getting a dog after the death of a close friend. In her mid-70s, she thought a pet could offer companionship, and she found a breeder on Facebook Marketplace. After sending photos of a puppy, the Facebook account requested a $2000 deposit. Nancy paid the money, but the dog never arrived.
After realising she had been scammed, Nancy spoke with her Corps Officer (pastor) at the Salvos. Nancy felt her judgment had been impaired by grief. Her bank was unable to retrieve the funds, so she shared her story to raise awareness for others. In an increasingly digital world with more online predators, older Australians are being left behind.
“Incidental ageism is pervasive with the adoption of new technologies,” says Emily Seiler, Policy and Advocacy Adviser with The Salvation Army. “There are so many things that have been around for less than a decade, and that’s just how we do it now. People get left behind.”
Financial abuse The Salvation Army submitted a response to the Federal Government’s National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People earlier this year. The Salvos highlighted financial abuse, including scams, fraud, unfair business practices and family pressures, along with the importance of connectedness and communication regarding services and community.
“Although financial abuse might be seen by some people as less serious, all abuse is harmful. The integration of new technologies into our daily routines has caused a drastic shift in how all consumers, including older people, interact with governments, businesses and their community,” Emily says.
Increased risk Although online service delivery offers convenience for many, older individuals left behind by this digital transition often find themselves digitally excluded. This digital exclusion can lead to older people being unable to meet their basic needs or being forced to interact with technology they are unfamiliar with or uncomfortable using. This forced digital migration leaves older people at a greater risk of falling victim to scams.
“Scams are prolific and create this entire sense of danger,” says Emily. “This can cause apprehension for older people, and lead to both social isolation and financial harm.”
Scammers often pose as trusted brands and services to appear legitimate. The Salvation Army brand has also been exploited, with scammers creating a fake No Interest Loans (NILS) Facebook page that mirrors the genuine Salvos page.
Multiple community members received messages from a fake profile requesting their bank details to complete their application. While many recognised the scam, reported the page and alerted The Salvation Army, some people were not so lucky. Several community members lost thousands of dollars, including an older gentleman who lost about $8000.
“A time of significant risk is after the death of a spouse,” Emily says. “Specialising in relationships, where members of a couple will each take on specific tasks that complement their skillset, creates a large risk for the widow or widower. We heard from one man who said the first bill he ever paid independently was his partner’s funeral.”
Recommendations The National Plan had not previously included scams and fraud in its definition of financial abuse. The Salvation Army’s submission recommends that scams and fraud be acknowledged as a form of mistreatment and abuse, with significant impacts on older people.
The Salvation Army has also recommended that the National Plan work with key service providers to ensure services and essential communications are in formats accessible to older people.
“There is help available if you think you may have been scammed,” Emily says. “If you think you or someone you know has been scammed or is experiencing financial abuse, The Salvation Army’s Moneycare financial counsellors are here to support you to understand what options might be available to you.”
• To make an appointment to see a Moneycare financial counsellor, please call 1800 722 363
• If you think you’ve been scammed, contact scamwatch.gov.au
