An Australian pensioner has been left homeless and surviving on just $47 a fortnight after a scam wiped out her entire retirement savings. The case highlights the devastating financial and personal toll that scams can inflict on older Australians, who are often targeted precisely because they hold significant savings and may be less familiar with online fraud tactics.

The full details of how the scam was carried out have not been specified, but the outcome for the pensioner has been severe: the loss of her life savings has left her without stable housing and reliant on an extremely limited fortnightly income to survive. The case is likely to renew scrutiny of scam prevention measures and support services available to elderly Australians who fall victim to financial fraud.