As Australia’s aged care system changes and more communication happens by phone and text, scammers have found a cruel new angle: impersonating aged care assessors, providers and government services to prey on older people navigating an unfamiliar system. The government has issued specific warnings about it. The good news is that these scams follow recognisable patterns, and a few simple habits defeat most of them. Here’s the plain-language guide to staying safe.
Why Older Australians Are Targeted
Scammers target older people deliberately, and aged care is a particularly effective disguise. Someone in the middle of registering with My Aged Care, waiting for an assessment, or arranging care for a parent is exactly the person who might believe a call claiming to be from an assessor or the department, because they’re genuinely expecting that contact.
The government has confirmed recent reports of scammers impersonating aged care assessors specifically, which is why knowing the warning signs matters more than ever right now.
The Common Aged Care Scams
A few patterns come up repeatedly. There’s the fake assessor, someone calling or turning up claiming to be an aged care assessor and asking for personal details, bank information or a fee to “process” an assessment. Real assessments don’t work that way. There’s the upfront fee scam, demanding payment to secure a package or speed up a waitlist, when government aged care assessments don’t require payment to proceed. And there’s the classic details-harvesting call, impersonating My Aged Care or a provider to extract Medicare numbers, bank details or passwords.
The common thread is always the same: unexpected contact, pressure, and a request for money or sensitive information.
The Warning Signs
Several red flags should trigger immediate caution. Unexpected contact you didn’t initiate, especially if it presses you to act quickly. Any request for bank details, Medicare numbers or passwords over the phone or by text. Pressure or urgency, “you must act now or lose your place”. Requests for upfront payment to access or speed up government aged care. And links in text messages asking you to “verify” or “update” your details.
Genuine government services and reputable providers don’t operate this way, so any of these signs is reason enough to stop.
The Habits That Keep You Safe
Protection is simpler than people fear. Never give out bank details, Medicare numbers or passwords to someone who contacted you, no matter who they claim to be. Hang up and call back on a number you find yourself, from the official My Aged Care website or your provider’s official contact, not a number the caller gives you. Never click links in unexpected texts about your aged care. And take your time, no legitimate service will punish you for wanting to verify who you’re dealing with.
A useful rule for families: agree that any unexpected request for money or details always gets checked with a trusted family member first. That single habit stops most scams in their tracks.
What to Do If You’re Targeted
If you suspect a scam, don’t engage further, and don’t be embarrassed, these scams are sophisticated and anyone can be targeted. Verify any genuine aged care contact by calling My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422. Report scams to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, which helps warn others. And if you’ve given away financial details, contact your bank immediately. Official scam alerts are published on My Aged Care.
For Families
If you have an older parent or relative, this is a conversation worth having directly and without alarm. Let them know these scams exist, that assessors and the government never ask for bank details or fees over the phone, and that they can always check with you before acting. Framing it as “let’s protect each other” rather than “you might get tricked” makes it land better, and it genuinely works.
The Bottom Line
Aged care scams prey on people doing nothing more than trying to arrange care, and they’re on the rise. But they rely on catching people off guard, and they crumble against a few simple habits: never give details to someone who contacted you, always call back on an official number, never click suspicious links, and check with family first. Share these with the older people in your life, because knowing the patterns is most of the protection. This is general information, not financial, legal or aged care advice.
Epik Wire covers aged care in plain language for older Australians and their families. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
