Consumer Protection

Buying or renting a residential property involves significant financial transactions which, increasingly, are targets for scammers.

Over the last 12 month, WA ScamNet received 129 complaints of real estate and rental scams that  left 74 West Australians almost one million dollars, in total, out of pocket.

Rental and real estate scammers try to trick you out of your money when you need to transfer payments or make deposits to banks, real estate & settlement agents or landlords.

• Mandatory professional development to continue for WA real estate and settlement industries
• Ongoing education and training to maintain faith and confidence in industry participants
• Agents to administer and self-fund program

The Cook Government has again thrown its support behind mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for everyone employed in the real estate and settlement sectors to ensure high standards are maintained.

• All short-term rental accommodation providers to be required to register properties
• New $10,000 incentive for property owners to transition existing short-term rental accommodation into long-term rental homes for Western Australians
• Reforms to provide consistency across the sector and clarity on what is required to operate a short-term rental accommodation property

The Cook Government has today announced new regulations for un-hosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia, along with an incentive aimed at returning some properties to

If you have a mobile phone, laptop, electric toothbrush, eScooter, eBike, any power tools, or solar power backup storage, you need to know how to reduce potentially deadly fire risks lurking in their batteries.

These common household items use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which can be highly flammable. If these batteries are used incorrectly, or are damaged, they can overheat, explode and cause fires that can be dangerous and difficult to extinguish.

If you’re looking forward to a dream holiday, then watch out for a sophisticated new scam that could risk it turning into a nightmare.

Consumer Protection’s WA ScamNet team is warning travellers about unexpected messages from their accommodation providers seeking additional credit card verification, as it could be the work of scammers who have hacked into the hotel’s computer system.

Halloween has become increasingly popular in Western Australia, with many people using the occasion to dress up, decorate their homes and go trick-or-treating.

To ensure your night doesn’t end with a fright, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from harm. 

Have you ever walked away from a business transaction and felt it was unfair or you questioned how you were treated?

Whether you are a consumer or owner of a small business, you may have felt that it didn't feel like a level playing field. These types of business behaviours are referred to as unfair trading practices and the Australian Government is looking into how these behaviours might be causing harm and what could be done about it. 

As school holidays approach, a reminder that quad bikes and kids are a dangerous, and potentially deadly, mix.

Since 2020, nine West Australians have been killed on quad bikes - two of them this year, including a girl aged under 10. Nationally, quad bikes are a leading cause of serious injury and death on Australian farming properties with 71 people killed, including 11 children, since 2017.

The search is on for outstanding WA individuals, organisations and groups who are strong advocates for consumer rights, with nominations open for the prestigious 20th anniversary Consumer Protection Awards.

The awards shine a spotlight on the great work being carried out in the community, such as offering advice, assistance and education; lobbying for change; creating greater understanding of consumer law; promoting product safety; or highlighting consumer issues generally.

Money is not the only thing scammers are looking to steal these days – your personal identification can be just as valuable to them.

As part of their ruse, scammers posing as legitimate organisations or government service providers often pretend to need copies of your driver’s licence and passport to verify your identity, when their actual aim is to steal it.