Scammers have stolen about $375,000 intended to fund the aged care costs of a 102 year old woman, the money being the proceeds from the sale of her Ferndale home.
Labels such as ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ can be attractive for shoppers wanting to do their bit for the environment, but it’s not always easy to sort what’s fact from fiction.
That’s why a recent internet sweep by consumer agencies throughout the world, including Consumer Protection in WA, focused on identifying misleading environmental claims for the first time.
A new mandatory code of practice is now in force for WA’s prepaid funeral industry which aims to safeguard the estimated $170 million being held to pay for future funerals.
The new code which began on 1 March 2021 will ensure that the funds will be managed within secure investments under the name of the client until they are required.
Applications are open under the Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme to help tenants who are struggling financially meet rent payments.
Renters who are facing a significant rent increase they are unable to afford can apply. However, their landlord must agree to a fixed-term lease of at least six months beyond 28 March 2021. This grant is capped at $2,000 per tenancy.
An increase in online shopping activity during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a huge 500 per cent increase in losses to scams for that category in 2020 statistics compiled by WA ScamNet at Consumer Protection.
In 2020, 257 online shoppers in WA reported total losses of $653,745, compared to 129 victims losing $127,304 in 2019.
A stone repair and cleaning company and its sole Director have been ordered by the Perth Magistrates Court to pay a total of $9,203 in fines, costs and consumer compensation for failing to carry out services after payments were made.
Now that Cyclone Seroja has come and gone, many regional Western Australians will be assessing the damage and counting the cost of the destruction left in its wake.
One of the first steps to be taken if your property has been damaged in a natural disaster like this is to check what your insurance policy covers for storms and floods.
A producer of custom laser-cut panels, screens and gates who took consumers’ money but failed to deliver has received a $5,000 fine imposed by the Perth Magistrates Court on 16 April 2021.
Tenants who are desperate to secure a rental property in the current tight market are being targeted by scammers with many thousands of dollars being lost and Consumer Protection urging caution before handing over money.
