Australians are losing more money to scams than ever before, so taking a moment to consider whether there might be a scammer behind the next random phone call, text message or email you receive has never been so important.
Empowering consumers to learn how to spot a scam is the focus of this year’s Scams Awareness Week (7-11 November 2022), hosted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Scams Awareness Network.
With the warm summer months upon us, many families will spend more time outdoors and around water, so it is important to be aware of the risks to keep safe while having fun in the sun.
Sadly 339 people have lost their lives to drowning in Australia this year, according to figures from Royal Life Saving Australia. Rivers and creeks accounted for 34 per cent of all drowning deaths, followed by beaches at 21 per cent.
Don’t disappoint loved ones this Valentine’s Day with online flowers or gifts that don’t arrive in time, or arrive in time but are not what you ordered.
If you have left your shopping to the last minute, make sure to seek delivery guarantees when ordering online, so you know your flowers or gifts will arrive in time.
People in flood-affected communities in the Kimberley and generous West Australians wanting to help with donations, are being warned to be on the lookout for opportunistic scammers trying to steal money in the wake of this disaster.
Scammers were posing as legitimate registered charity - Leedal Foundation Limited - in Fitzroy Crossing, using a fake Instagram account in their name, asking donors to buy Amazon ecards.
This Australia Day, many families and friends are planning to get together to make the most of the warm summer day.
We all want to have a safe Australia Day, but many summer products can be unsafe if left unattended, not used or stored correctly, particularly with the hot weather expected.
For those backyard BBQ gatherings, a portable or in-ground pool may be used to keep cool but they hold significant drowning risks to children, if not used properly.
People in flood-affected communities in the Kimberley are being warned by the McGowan Government to be on high alert as social media scams promising relief money are targeting flood victims.
With Christmas over for another year, many children are happily enjoying their new gifts.
While it is always exciting for children to receive fun gifts to play with, they may pose some safety risks, so it is a timely reminder for parents to be aware of key safety issues with some products.
Button or coin batteries are found in many toys and novelty gifts that produce light and sound effects, but they are also found in household items such as remote controls, watches, calculators, torches, LED candles and kitchen and bathroom scales.
The McGowan Government has embarked on an action plan with the major focus of improving the services available to consumers and tenants living with disability in Western Australia.
Special provisions in tenancy laws aimed at helping renters in situations of family and domestic violence (FDV) are now under review by the McGowan Government to determine if they need to be fine-tuned.
Christmas is an exciting and magical time of year but the lead up to the big day can often be chaotic and stressful. With online shopping scams and delivery delays, Western Australian shoppers are urged to get on top of their Christmas shopping early to avoid disappointment.
Online shopping is an easy and convenient choice to buy Christmas gifts, but Western Australian shoppers should be aware of scammers looking to trick unsuspecting victims into buying a product they may never receive.
