In an age of rapidly advancing technology, it's crucial to ensure that all community members, especially seniors, are protected from the darker side of the digital world—scams.

Recognising the vulnerability of older Australians to fraudulent schemes, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and Telstra have joined forces to introduce an 'essential' change that aims to shield our seniors from cybercriminals.

The partnership between CBA and Telstra has expanded the use of their anti-scam technology, Scam Indicator, to landline phones.

This move is particularly significant given that landlines remain a lifeline for many older Australians.

According to Telstra data, 85 per cent of landline numbers are registered to individuals over 60.

Commonwealth Bank and Telstra extended Scam Indicator tech to landlines, boosting protection for older Australians. Credit: Shutterstock

With this demographic being a prime target for scammers, the Scam Indicator service is a timely intervention.

'Landlines are still an essential service for many Australians, but they can also be a target for opportunistic scammers who prey on people's trust and goodwill,' said Sandy Cameron, CEO of Quantium Telstra.

'Expanding Scam Indicator to cover landlines means we (can) help safeguard those in our community most vulnerable to being targeted by cybercriminals.'

Initially rolled out to mobile phones in 2023 for Telstra and CBA customers, Scam Indicator utilises a Telstra Application Programming Interface (API) that enables CommBank to identify high-risk scam situations in real time.

Suppose a customer is engaged in a phone call that the CBA Fraud Team deems suspicious.

In that case, they can intervene by sending a warning message to the customer or even placing holds or blocks on the customer's account to prevent the transfer of large sums of money to scammers.

Since its implementation, Australians have saved millions of dollars – funds that would have been nearly impossible to recover once lost to scammers.

James Roberts, CommBank’s General Manager of Group Fraud, highlighted the urgency scammers create to convince victims to part with their money.

'As an example, our teams recently used this technology to help stop an elderly customer from being scammed when she was talking to a scammer using her landline,' he said.

'The scammer had convinced the customer to download software that gave them full access to her computer and banking information.'

He shared an instance where the technology prevented an elderly customer from losing $70,000 after being duped into giving a scammer access to her computer and banking information.

The rollout of Scam Indicator to landlines is a significant advancement in the fight against scams, particularly given the alarming statistics from the National Anti-Scam Centre.

In 2023, individuals over 65 lost more money to scammers than any other age group, and phone calls were the most common method criminals used.

Furthermore, this age group reported the most scams in the first quarter 2024.

The collaboration between CBA and Telstra exemplifies the power of joint efforts in combating scams.

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'Working together with Telstra is a good example of the power of collaboration, using data and technology for good with security and privacy at the forefront,' Robert stated.

'We know we are stronger together against the scammers when we take a whole ecosystem approach – banks, social media, telcos, government, and also consumers, all have a role to play,'

Despite a slight decrease in total losses from $3.1 billion to $2.7 billion in the last year, the number of scams reported has risen by 18.5 per cent, with over-65s being the hardest hit.

Investment, remote access, and romance scams remain the most prolific, with losses in the millions.

For those who find themselves victims of a scam, it's crucial to act swiftly.

Contact your bank immediately to halt transactions, report the scam to Scamwatch, and make an official police complaint.

Be wary of follow-up scams, especially those promising to recover lost funds. Scamwatch warns that one in three scam victims is targeted more than once.

Key Takeaways

• The Commonwealth Bank and Telstra have expanded their Scam Indicator technology to cover landlines to protect older Australians from scams.
• The Scam Indicator identifies high-risk scam situations in real time. It can warn customers or block transactions if necessary.
• People over 65 have lost more money to scammers than any other age group, with phone calls being the most common method scammers use.
• Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams in the previous year, with investment scams being the most prolific, followed by remote access and romance scams.

How do you think adding Scam Indicator technology to landlines will improve protection for older Australians against scams? What other measures could help further safeguard seniors from fraud? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[Free.lander]

IT sounds like a bloody good idea but I have to question the limited application---like only telstra and CBA customers. Why not make it a federal thing across all service providers with the service providers footing the bill. After all they have indoctrinated us all to believe that they are the leaders in technology ,__making billions I might add from that technology-- and now when smarter scammers are on the scene , it is not rolled out across the whole service provider network to all banks clients and phones
We need a full on or nothing approach to stop scammers
A couple here and there allows scammers to perfect their attacks
Personally, I just hang up the phone and wish the do not call register was in use

 

[gbaerken]

IT sounds like a bloody good idea but I have to question the limited application---like only telstra and CBA customers. Why not make it a federal thing across all service providers with the service providers footing the bill. After all they have indoctrinated us all to believe that they are the leaders in technology ,__making billions I might add from that technology-- and now when smarter scammers are on the scene , it is not rolled out across the whole service provider network to all banks clients and phones
We need a full on or nothing approach to stop scammers
A couple here and there allows scammers to perfect their attacks
Personally, I just hang up the phone and wish the do not call register was in use

Don't think the registaer would stop scammers, but your idea of all or nothing makes sense and one wonders why the other banks and services are not taking advantage of this feature.

 

[Free.lander]

Don't think the registaer would stop scammers, but your idea of all or nothing makes sense and one wonders why the other banks and services are not taking advantage of this feature.

When it initially was introduced , it stopped many unwanted telecaller sales crap because they were hit with big fines, then the good old LNP changed the rules to allow charities and outer supporters to by pass the rules -- BUT my point is--if the "do not call register"was up and running and monitored by AI, it would pick out the scammers before they even got to their victims because they would be blocked immediately

 

[gbaerken]

When it initially was introduced , it stopped many unwanted telecaller sales crap because they were hit with big fines, then the good old LNP changed the rules to allow charities and outer supporters to by pass the rules -- BUT my point is--if the "do not call register"was up and running and monitored by AI, it would pick out the scammers before they even got to their victims because they would be blocked immediately

How could monitoring a register stop scammers? Especially when it seems they can spoof any number that's available
.

 

[Catherines]

Good idea, but should be across all companies - banks and telecommunications.

 

[Free.lander]

Good idea, but should be across all companies - banks and telecommunications.

Ah but you see , it is a number called register and if you register your numbers as not to be called then the scammers cannot call your number
Now as we know they use a computer to generate the calls, immediately a register number is generated by the computer is is blocked . Now I know that you will say, but they can then call your number without a computer, -- again the number is blocked because you have registered it to be a blocked number-- Besides it did work until the LNP decided it was blocking their supporters calls so they let it lapse - WE need new ideas to protect ourselves , and this idea did work and could be made to work again as the computers are faster and now we have A.I to assist-- Besides as an after thought, because of the way A.I correlates the data , scammers service providers locations would be identified and notices sent to the authorities to shut them down -- come on help me here with new and better ideas.

 

[Bella1119]

I lost all my money to scammers at the beginning of this year but the CBA could not get my money back, although they believed I had been scammed ( I have that statement in an email from them ), as the scammers had access to a net code, although I had no idea what that was , so now only have my Aged Pension ,with no money to pay for any repairs that may arise in my home, so am now very wary of every call on my mobile.

 

[Veggiepatch]

When it initially was introduced , it stopped many unwanted telecaller sales crap because they were hit with big fines, then the good old LNP changed the rules to allow charities and outer supporters to by pass the rules -- BUT my point is--if the "do not call register"was up and running and monitored by AI, it would pick out the scammers before they even got to their victims because they would be blocked immediately

Political parties are also exempt from the "do not call" register.

 

[Bukari]

Great idea. Most landlines also are connected to emergency alarms ie- fall indicators etc.
This will help us as we age. I havecfriends that I keep telling them.if you don't have the number in your phone or you don't know it Don't answer.

 

[gbaerken]

Ah but you see , it is a number called register and if you register your numbers as not to be called then the scammers cannot call your number
Now as we know they use a computer to generate the calls, immediately a register number is generated by the computer is is blocked . Now I know that you will say, but they can then call your number without a computer, -- again the number is blocked because you have registered it to be a blocked number-- Besides it did work until the LNP decided it was blocking their supporters calls so they let it lapse - WE need new ideas to protect ourselves , and this idea did work and could be made to work again as the computers are faster and now we have A.I to assist-- Besides as an after thought, because of the way A.I correlates the data , scammers service providers locations would be identified and notices sent to the authorities to shut them down -- come on help me here with new and better ideas.

I think you have it wrong. "The Registry is a list that tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call — but it doesn’t block calls. So being on the Registry won’t stop calls from scammers making illegal calls. " That's a direct quote from their site. But your idea has merit and Government should investigate the possibility of enabling such protection.

 

[marinedeepblue]

If the Banks and Telcos were held financially responsible for reimbursing the victims $$$, as they are in other countries such as Great Britain, I am sure that there would be impenetrable unscammable foolproof impregnable security on customers accounts in a heartbeat!!!

 

[Reet]

If all mobile phones had this technology it might help more people from receiving scams. Not just older people are being targetted.

 

[Reet]

Great idea. Most landlines also are connected to emergency alarms ie- fall indicators etc.
This will help us as we age. I havecfriends that I keep telling them.if you don't have the number in your phone or you don't know it Don't answer.

I agree wholeheartedly. I do not answer numbers I do not recognise

 

[David567]

If a stranger calls, treat it as a scam. Especially if they have foreign accent. Don't trust those you don't know.

 

[Miss Chris]

Political parties are also exempt from the "do not call" register.

 

[Ezzy]

Ah but you see , it is a number called register and if you register your numbers as not to be called then the scammers cannot call your number
Now as we know they use a computer to generate the calls, immediately a register number is generated by the computer is is blocked . Now I know that you will say, but they can then call your number without a computer, -- again the number is blocked because you have registered it to be a blocked number-- Besides it did work until the LNP decided it was blocking their supporters calls so they let it lapse - WE need new ideas to protect ourselves , and this idea did work and could be made to work again as the computers are faster and now we have A.I to assist-- Besides as an after thought, because of the way A.I correlates the data , scammers service providers locations would be identified and notices sent to the authorities to shut them down -- come on help me here with new and better ideas.

It has been stated on more than one occasion by authorities that they cannot stop calls originating from overseas, even if you are registered on the DO NOT CALL REGISTER.

 

[peteloo]

With the NBN, I thought we no longer have the analog landline. The phone is connected to NBN because it is a digital phone. If the NBN network is down, we can’t make emergency calls too.

 

[banksiaman]

It sounds good but what do I have to do to receive the service.

 

[Arkycray]

About time Telstra started looking after the people who still use landline phones.