What Is Phishing? A Simple Guide for Perth Seniors and Beginners

If you've ever received a strange email pretending to be from your bank or Australia Post, you've already encountered phishing. It sounds like a fishing trip, and that's exactly the idea — scammers cast a wide net, hoping someone will "bite."

What Does Phishing Actually Mean?

Phishing is when a criminal pretends to be a trustworthy organisation — like Commonwealth Bank, Bankwest, MyGov, or even a friend — in order to trick you into handing over personal details such as your password, Medicare number, or credit card information. It usually arrives by email, but as you'll learn in later lessons, it can also come by text message or phone call.

The word itself is a play on "fishing," and industry data shows it remains the number one way criminals break into computer systems worldwide, precisely because it targets people rather than technology.

Why Perth Seniors Are Often Targeted

Scammers often assume older Australians may be less familiar with computers, more trusting, or more likely to have savings. In Western Australia, Scamwatch and WA Police regularly issue warnings about phishing emails impersonating Western Power, the ATO, and local banks. Being aware of this targeting isn't something to feel embarrassed about — it simply means a little extra knowledge goes a long way.

What a Phishing Email Usually Looks Like

Common warning signs include:

• An urgent tone ("Your account will be suspended in 24 hours!")

• A request to "verify" your password or bank details

• A link that looks slightly different from the real website address

• Poor spelling or grammar, or a greeting like "Dear Customer" instead of your name

  
  

A Simple Rule to Remember

Genuine organisations like Centrelink, your bank, or the ATO will never email or text you asking you to click a link and enter your password. If in doubt, don't click anything in the message. Instead, open a new browser window and type the organisation's website address yourself, or call them using the number on the back of your card or a recent statement.

Your First Step to Staying Safe

You don't need to become a computer expert overnight. Simply slowing down before clicking, and asking "would this company really contact me this way?" stops the vast majority of phishing attempts in their tracks.

In our next article, we'll show you exactly which red flags to look for in a suspicious email, step by step — perfect for building your confidence at the keyboard.

This article is part of our free computing lessons series for adult beginners and seniors in Perth, WA. Explore the rest of the series to keep building your digital confidence.

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Want a helping hand with any of this? If reading about scams and safety leaves you with more questions than answers, you don't have to figure it all out alone. At Ess Click, we offer friendly, one-on-one affordable digital skills lessons right in the comfort of your own home, at a pace that suits you — no jargon, no judgement, just practical help so you feel confident and in control on your computer, tablet or phone. Whether it's learning to spot a suspicious email or simply getting more comfortable online, we'd love to help. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about how we can get you started!