Consumer Protection

Electric scooters, skateboards and hoverboards will no doubt appear under many Christmas trees this year, however there’s a very good reason why families should avoid buying eRideables as gifts for their children this festive season.

While they may be an increasingly popular and fun way to get around, the reality is that eRideables are not toys and they are capable of causing very serious injuries if used incorrectly.

• LED String Fairy Lights Net Mesh does not comply with electrical safety standards
• Buyers of this product must discontinue use and unplug immediately
• One consumer has reported an electrical shock injury needing hospital treatment

Consumers are being urgently warned about dangerous Christmas lights that have caused an electric shock injury and are believed to have been sold recently in WA.

• Repairer ordered by SAT to pay total of $4,676 in fines and costs
• Failed to provide a police clearance as required by certificate condition
• Also failed to advise changes of address as required by law

Failing to comply with a condition attached to his certificate has resulted in a $3,000 fine and a reprimand for a Perth motor vehicle repairer.

• Unlicensed motor vehicle repairer to pay $2,000 fine and $566 in costs
• Repairer advertised services via Facebook and a website
• Consumers urged to do licence checks before engaging repairers

An Ellenbrook motor vehicle repairer has been fined $2,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for carrying out mobile mechanical repairs without a licence.

Victor James Wright was also ordered to pay costs of $566 when convicted in his absence on 16 December 2022 of breaching the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act.

• Inflated UFC tickets contravening WA’s anti-ticket scalping laws may be cancelled
• Risk of refused entry to fans with tickets sold for more than ten per cent mark-up
• Advice for ticket holders who have purchased from unauthorised resellers

Consumer Protection is again warning consumers who may have purchased inflated tickets from unauthorised resellers to the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 284) at Perth's RAC Arena, that there is a high risk they may be refused entry, or that their tickets will be cancelled.

• Fans hoping to still buy tickets to UFC event urged to be vigilant to scams
• Tickets sold in violation of ticket scalping laws could be cancelled and entry refused  
• Some ads re-selling tickets illegally have already been taken down

Fans who are desperate to attend the sold out Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 284) event at Perth’s RAC Arena on Sunday night (12 February 2023) are being cautioned about buying last-minute second-hand tickets online.

• Record scam losses of $16 million in 2022 impact record number of victims
• Almost half of all WA scam victims last year fell for online shopping or trading scams
• People chasing high investment returns or looking for love lost the most money
• Western Australians urged to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams

Scam losses and the number of reports and victims in Western Australia broke records in 2022, with 1,203 people losing a combined $15,988,513 - a seven per cent increase on 2021's record losses.

• 14 further complaints received after first public warning issued last year.
• Consumers now claim to be owed a total of $62,000 for incomplete or no work.
• Warning not to do business with the air conditioning installer and custom trailer builder.

Despite a public warning being issued last year, a Perth air conditioning installer and builder of custom vehicle trailers continues to attract more consumer complaints for failing to begin or complete his work and not carrying out repairs.

• Guests claim the hotel incorrectly retains their security bonds
• 17 consumer complaints against the hotel and its proprietor remain unresolved
• Consumers advised to consider this alert before making a booking

Consumer Protection is raising a consumer alert about a Perth hotel proprietor who allegedly incorrectly retains security bond payments from guests, either wholly or partially.

• 67 victims reported losing almost $3 million to romance scams in WA in 2022
• Don’t transfer money or give your bank account details to someone you haven’t met in person
• Assume people you speak with online are scammers 

This Valentine’s Day (14 February), don’t open your heart up to scammers targeting vulnerable victims looking for love online.

Romance and dating scams are on the rise, with scammers using a broader range of communication methods to lure victims in, including social media, dating sites and even over the phone.