Consumer Protection

• 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.

• 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.

WA ScamNet has released a 2022 scam report, with 1,203 people reporting combined losses of $15,988,513 - a seven per cent increase on 2021’s recorded losses and recorded amount of victims.

The report reveals online shopping and classified scams claimed the most victims.

274 online shoppers lost a total of $876,774, with 270 buyers and sellers on classified sites losing a total of $564,680 - likely due to COVID-19 reaching its peak in WA and the need to isolate at home.

• $5,682 fine and costs for trading in motor vehicles without a licence
• 19 vehicles bought and 18 sold during an almost two year period
• Public urged to dob in unlicensed backyard dealers

The Perth Magistrates Court has imposed a $5,000 fine on a backyard motor vehicle dealer who operated without a licence for almost two years.

• Former Director fined $2,500 for unauthorised transfer of trust account funds
• Deposit from real estate sale contract transferred to agency operating account
• Funds then sent to two personal bank accounts

A former Director of an East Perth real estate agency has been ordered to pay a total of almost $4,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for unlawfully transferring funds from the agency’s trust account that were later deposited into his personal accounts.

Buying a pet is a decision many people make with their hearts as well as their heads, meaning it can be a particularly devastating experience when things go wrong with a new companion.

The issues we hear about can vary – from new pets with significant health issues or not matching their description (such as size or pedigree), to breeders taking upfront deposits for litters that are never born.

That’s why we have launched a new campaign to help empower new pet owners to understand how the Australian Consumer Law protects them in the same way as it does for other purchases.

• James Bartlett (Manager) fined $12,000, JPA Offroad Group Pty Ltd fined $12,000
• This is Mr Bartlett’s second prosecution for the same offence
•  It is against the Australian Consumer Law to accept deposits or full payments without supplying the goods and services within a reasonable or agreed time

Consumer Protection WA has prosecuted a Perth-based business selling Jeep car parts and offering installation services, for taking payment from consumers and failing to supply goods and services in a reasonable amount of time, resulting in a $24,000 fine.

• Non-compliant products containing button batteries pulled from Albany shelves
• Retailers face penalties for failing to comply with mandatory standards 
• Separate inspections reveal most Albany automotive dealers comply with the law

Consumer Protection has sounded a warning for retailers to ensure they are complying with mandatory button battery safety laws or face penalties, after a number of inspections in Albany uncovered non-compliant products for sale.

Cute photos of puppies and kittens have been used by scammers for years to dupe prospective pet buyers out of their hard-earned money and it’s only getting worse.

In Western Australia last year, our WA ScamNet team received 114 reports of pet scams, with 75 victims losing more than $216,000 – a three-fold increase on both the losses and victim numbers reported five years earlier in 2017.

• Vehicle sales contracts must state the new five per cent max. cancellation fee
• Infringement notices served on dealer for using old contract with the higher fee
• Zero tolerance with dealers who continue to use outdated and illegal contracts

Consumer Protection is cracking down on motor vehicle dealers in WA using incorrect or outdated sales contracts which state a cancellation fee that is higher than what is now legally allowed.