As scams become a reality for many, it can be financially and emotionally debilitating, especially for seniors.

But fear not, Kiama is doing something about it.

Kiama Library and Kiama and Shoalhaven Community College (KSCC) are offering two courses: the Tech Savvy Seniors for over 60s and Cyber Security Awareness for over 50s.

KSCC vocational and education training manager Robert Murphy explained to The Bugle that the Cyber Security Awareness course is targeted to over 50s to educate people on the threats that are associated with technology.

“The idea is to empower people to have some skills to identify any security threats, spam and associated malware and software and give them some practical tips,” Murphy said.

With the Kiama Library and KSCC providing their respective classes, manager of library and cultural hubs Michelle Hudson hopes to see many local residents taking advantage of these sessions.

“It’s giving people that confidence in that small classroom setting,” Hudson said.

“They have a maximum of 10 people, so that (if) people feel that they don’t understand, that everyone is in the same position.

“Sometimes they are finding out things from other people’s questions.”

Part of the difficulties faced by many people with technology is the ability to decipher scammers who use different techniques to take advantage of the vulnerable.

“(It) used to be phone calls, now it’s the text messages,” Murphy said.

“The big message out there is if you don’t know who it is and you didn’t contact them, it is potentially a scam.”

The terminology for what Murphy is describing is the terminology "phishing", which Murphy explains with an analogy.

“If you think you’re going to the river for a fish, well you are out there trying to get the biggest fish you can,” he said.

“So, these people are doing something similar. They are trying to extract information out of you.

“And that could be something very, very small, but if they get enough information or they piece the bits together, they can do things like take over your identity at the far end of the scale.”

Hudson extends on Murphy’s analogy with the focus on providing greater understanding for people engaging with technology.

“Acknowledgement that they do need to be careful, but you don’t want that to stop people,” Hudson said.

“Giving them that bigger understanding of how they can do that safely (engage with technology) and how they can share information safely.

“Unfortunately, that demographic (over 50s) does often get targeted (by scammers).”

In the 2024 National Anti-Scam report on scams data and activity “Australians aged 65 and over had the highest overall reported losses to Scamwatch of $99.6 million – almost one third of all losses reported last year.”

Recently, it was widely reported of a data breach involving Qantas, where 5.7 million customers have had their information stolen from Qantas.

Data breaches similar to this recent one are used to sell users information onto third parties on the dark web.

For many who use the Kiama and Gerringong libraries, Hudson and staff work hard for to ensure they are remain safe and welcoming.

“The libraries are seen as that safe and welcoming place,” Hudson said.

“We’re trusted and we can gently guide you through those sorts of interactions, and mention things like cyber safety and make sure that they are thinking about all of the different elements of technology.” 

The Tech Savvy Seniors is a free course and delivered in partnership with the NSW government and Telstra, with the next round of funding imminent for the Kiama Library. 

The Cyber Security Awareness course at KSCC is free for eligible participants, with limited spaces available at the Kiama Campus and the Shoalhaven Community College.

For more information head to https://kcc.nsw.edu.au/courses/cyber-security-awareness/