According to PTV, at least 14 individuals have reported having money taken from their accounts through fraudulent activity. Daniel Bowen, representing the Public Transport Users Association, explained that scammers exploit weaknesses in the registration process of myki cards.
As a precautionary measure, commuters are advised by the Public Transport Users Association to register their myki cards to safeguard against such fraud.
Currently, PTV facilitates card registration through online platforms or by phone using the unique 15-digit number printed on each myki card.
Mr. Bowen says registering a myki card seems to thwart scammers from exploiting the vulnerability. While only a handful of cases have been reported thus far, he stressed the urgency for government intervention before the problem escalates.
Trials scheduled for this year aim to enable the use of debit and credit cards on Victoria’s public transport network, marking a transition away from myki cards anticipated to span two years.
“A lot of people who use myki don’t register their cards, and it appears that this may leave them vulnerable to this scam,” says Mr Bowen
“The scam appears to happen when scammers work out that cards are unregistered, and register it to their name and claim a refund.” he says.
A report from July 2023 revealed that a proposed trial, allowing Victorians to tap on public transport using credit cards or phones instead of myki cards, was rejected by the government three years prior.
Shadow Minister for Transport, Matthew Guy, criticised the government for its slow response in transitioning away from the outdated myki system. He emphasised the importance of prioritizing the upgrade of the ticketing system, especially in light of potential data compromises.
In 2005, the Keane Australia Micropayment Consortium – known as Kamco – was contracted to develop the myki system, which replaced the paper Metcard system under a 10-year deal worth almost $1 billion.
Individuals who believe their myki card has been compromised are encouraged to reach out to Public Transport Victoria promptly by dialing 1800 800 007.
