It’s important for seniors, especially those living in Western Australia, to be aware of this newest online scam.

Scammers behind the website are looking to secure their money by charging an application fee in exchange for a Seniors Card.

The bogus portal claims to be 'officially approved' and charges applicants a fee of $29 per card.

Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch and Commerce Minister Sue Ellery have issued warnings about the website.

WA Seniors are being warned of a fraudulent website asking them to pay $29 for a WA Seniors Card. Image source: master1305 on Freepik.

A legitimate WA Seniors Card will always be free of charge, and applicants will never be requested to pay a fee or disclose their bank or credit card details in exchange for membership.

The official WA Seniors Card website is https://www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au/.

Always look for the official State crest before proceeding with an application for membership to ensure you are accessing a secure and trusted website.

For further assistance, you may also contact the WA Seniors Card team on 1800 671 233 or email [email protected].

How to Stay Safe Against Online Scams

Prevention, they say, is always better than cure. So, here are some ways that may help keep you safe from online scams:

First, adapt the practice of verifying the legitimacy of a website. Look for tell-tale signs such as bad grammar, spelling errors, or pressure tactics (such as limited-time offers). Moreover, always check whether the web page has the 'https:' prefix, indicative of a secure, encrypted connection, as opposed to the insecure 'http:' counterpart.

For added safety, look out for the secure symbol on the website to verify its security.

Check the secure symbol beside the website’s link to make sure it is safe. Image source: The New York Times / SDC.

Always be alert for emails saying it’s from your bank and asking for your personal or financial information. Remember, reputable institutions seldom ask you to disclose such sensitive data via email.

Another weapon at your disposal is keeping your software updated. Keep your operating system, antivirus software, online applications, and web browser up to date to throw a wrench in the works of those cybercrime machinations.

Let's not overlook the paramount importance of a strong password. Create one that's a good mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Changing it on a regular basis may also be of big help.

To conclude, don't click on links or download attachments from unknown sources and remember, when in doubt, ask for help and double-check before you click!

Key Takeaways

• Seniors living in Western Australia are being warned about a scam Seniors Card website charging a fee for membership.
  
• The fake website claims to be 'officially approved' and charges a $29 fee per card.
  
• Seniors are reminded that a legitimate WA Seniors Card is always free of charge, and they are never requested to disclose bank or credit card details.
  
• The official WA Seniors Card website is www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au, and applicants are advised to ensure they see the official State crest before proceeding with an application.
  

If you or someone you know has been scammed, you can contact IDCARE for help in dealing with the consequences of identity theft through this link: https://www.idcare.org/contact/get-help.

Have you encountered a similar scam before? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[maggiej]

I have seen nothing reported of this scam by either Don Punch or Sue Ellery and I do watch the channel 7 news.

 

[Zemo]

I have seen nothing reported of this scam by either Don Punch or Sue Ellery and I do watch the channel 7 news.

Yair, well, back in the "good old days", journalists and newsreaders were people who adhered to the five dubs and and an aitch and understood what they read. Nowadays, they're mostly pretty faces who slavishly parrot off stuff that's on idiot boards and was written by people with little knowledge of the language.