Most Australians targeted by online scams, study reveals

New research from PayPal has revealed that 97% of Australians have been targeted by scammers, with a significant portion of the population actively helping others to stay safe online. The study, which involved a sample size of 1,000 Australians aged 18 to 75, shows that 86% of Australians have assisted someone they know in navigating online security.

According to the research, Australians are predominantly helping their parents (56%), friends (40%), children (35%), and co-workers (20%) with online scams and safety advice. Significantly, 81% of respondents noted that they had successfully prevented someone they know from being scammed. This assistance typically involves spending an average of 42 minutes per week, translating to 2.8 hours per month, or 34 hours per year.

Daniela Fernandez, PayPal's Head of Information Security, commented on the findings, stating, “There is an evolutionary advantage to exchanging information about threats and potential harms, and it seems we are instinctively hardwired to help improve collective risk awareness across our networks.” She added, “It’s touching that Australians are so willing to help their parents, family and friends stay safe from scams and other online dangers. However, the best defence is for individuals to maintain personal cyber safety awareness and precautions, so we must help others help themselves going forward.”

The study highlighted the demographics most likely to dispense this advice, with Millennials spending the most time assisting others. This age group averages 54 minutes per week, 3.6 hours monthly, or 43 hours annually on providing online safety advice.

Despite these efforts, scams remain a prevalent issue. Approximately three-in-five Australians, or 57%, know someone who has lost money due to scammers or online fraud. The types of scams encountered vary, with 85% experiencing scam calls, 82% scam texts, and 80% scam emails. As a result, 87% of Australians now screen calls due to scam fears, and 20% have reported adverse effects on their mental health.

Word of mouth plays a crucial role in the dissemination of online safety information. Around 63% of Australians discuss scams within their social circles, and 54% obtain information from their networks. This contrasts with more formal channels, such as online articles and news (62%), online government resources (44%), and traditional media like TV, radio, and printed news (34%).

The study also examined the safety tips shared among Australians, with the most common advice being the use of complex passwords (87%), using distinct passwords for different accounts, avoiding links in text messages (76%), and enabling two-factor authentication (74%). Additionally, 55% of respondents recommend using PayPal for secure online purchases, with 84% indicating a greater likelihood to check out online if a secure payment option like PayPal is available.

The increasing sophistication of scams has many Australians on high alert. A notable 93% of the population is concerned about online scams, with 85% believing that scams are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Some 40% are more concerned about online scams than they were a year ago. Consequently, the fear of scams is affecting daily life, causing 87% of Australians to avoid phone calls from unknown numbers and leading 15% to miss legitimate payments due to mistaking notices or reminders for scams.