Older Victorians lose $4.5m to scammers

Older Victorians lost more than $4.5 million to scammers in 2016, with the government launching a new awareness campaign to stem the flow of cash.

A Consumer Affairs Victoria survey released on Monday shows nearly one fifth of older Victorians have fallen for a scam and people aged 55 and over made 7000 reports of scams last year.

A new multi-government agency campaign to educate older Victorians, including information sessions at libraries, was launched by Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz on Monday.