A Perth modelling agent has been ordered to pay almost $12,000 in fines, costs and compensation by the Perth Magistrates Court for taking payments from aspiring male models but failing to deliver what he had promised.
With Black Friday sales coming up and many people doing their Christmas shopping online this year, Consumer Protection is warning consumers that scammers are out to take your money with fake retailer websites, social media pages and classified ads.
So far this year scammers have stolen a staggering $1.1 million from 418 WA victims in ‘buying and selling scams’ which, according to new figures from WA ScamNet, more than triples the losses from the whole of 2019 when 255 victims reported total losses of $319,100.
Consumer Protection is advising caution for Christmas shoppers with a wider availability of credit options including ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes and payday loans which could leave consumers drowning in debt.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen increasing use of ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes which allow shoppers to take possession of the goods straight away while paying off the purchase price in instalments.
A photographer of new-born babies was arrested and has appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court today on six charges of accepting payments from consumers but failing to supply some of the images to parents, an alleged breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
An arrest warrant was issued against Melissa Sheed of Aubin Grove after numerous attempts by Consumer Protection to serve her with a court summons failed.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping is pleased that this case is finally before the courts.
Laws that regulate the sale of motor vehicles on consignment in WA are under review with a ban being considered as one of the options.
Consumer Protection has begun consulting the industry and community about the future of these laws, proposing three options: maintaining the status quo; strengthening the consumer safeguards and training requirements; or banning consignment sales altogether.
Losses are mounting following a spate of phone threats and voicemails from scammers demanding the payment of a fake tax debt or the victim will be arrested.
So far this year, WA ScamNet at Consumer Protection has received 97 reports of tax phone scams with 15 victims losing a total of $188,200. The highest loss amount by one victim was $60,000. This compares with 2019 figures when $100,450 was lost between 22 victims and a total of 51 reports.
While many Western Australian businesses have re-opened and returned to ‘business as usual’, there are fears some will not survive the financial impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
When a business closes its doors, consumers often call Consumer Protection with concerns about money paid for goods or services that are yet to be received, or unspent gift vouchers or credit notes.
How consumers and creditors are affected when a business goes bust depends on the circumstances of each case.
Consumer Protection has issued a Halloween warning about potentially deadly button batteries and other hazards found in some novelty items and trick-or-treat costumes.
The agency’s product safety inspectors have been out and about ahead of Halloween and have identified a number of non-compliant products.
Consumer Protection has issued advice for customers of Aussie Sheds Albany affected by the bankruptcy of its sole proprietor Armand Javellana.
The business closed this week after taking payments from consumers for the construction of sheds but has failed to supply the materials or complete the work. So far 38 consumers have reported paying a total of almost $500,000 for work yet to be commenced or completed.
A child safety campaign has been re-launched highlighting the dangers of portable pools with, on average, one child drowning every year in Australia and many more needing hospital treatment, some left with severe brain injuries.
The ‘Don’t Duck Out, Make it SAFE’ summer campaign involves product safety regulators throughout Australia, including Consumer Protection in WA, joining forces with the Royal Life Saving Society to raise awareness of safety measures aimed at preventing children from drowning.
