Consumer Protection

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard...

There are many pleasant things we associate with summer in Western Australia, such as barbecues and swimming, but unfortunately at Consumer Protection it’s a time when we hear of ‘bitumen bandits’ in the State.

‘Bitumen bandits’ turn up at homes and businesses without invitation and then offer to lay driveways at supposedly discounted prices; often claiming they have asphalt leftover from another job.

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

You only have to look up ‘white van speaker scam’ online to find out it happens all over the world and it’s been going on for years. At the moment back of vehicle sellers are currently popping up in metropolitan Perth and regional WA and we want to make sure people steer clear of them.

An offer to buy new and used items, advertised in several WA newspapers, has been identified as a scam after being reported to Consumer Protection.

The large colourful advert offered readers of papers such as the Bunbury Herald, South West Times and Busselton & Dunsborough Times the chance to sell ‘merchandise or product’ and listed a huge variety of items that would be accepted; from pets and animals to clothing, furniture, electrical appliances, toys and musical instruments.

The only contact details given were two email addresses:

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard

The economic downturn in WA is creating opportunities for heartless scammers to take money from people in desperate circumstances who are least able to afford it.

Consumer Protection has received reports from a number of people recently who have fallen victim to personal loan scams and have given personal information which could lead to identity fraud in the future.

 

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

No place for family violence

Did you know WA is second only to the NT when it comes to rates of family and domestic violence (FDV) and there were more than 50,000 reported incidents across the State in 2016-17?

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard 

Consumer Protection WA is a proud supporter of Fraud Week, which this year starts on the 15^th of May and aims to help social media users learn how to spot a scam.

With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

Puppy scammers have been getting their claws into the money of pet-buyers in Western Australia for years. The scammers also use kittens, birds and other popular animals as bait. Sadly the animal never arrives and Consumer Protection has received reports of monetary loss from many heartbroken would-be pet owners.

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With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard

A number of residential building companies have collapsed in WA in recent months prompting Consumer Protection to reissue advice to off-the-plan property buyers. One of the biggest risks for anyone purchasing a home and land package or a yet-to-be-built house, unit or apartment within a development, is the prospect of it not going ahead.

Deposits

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard

Consumers suffering allergic reactions to sunscreen or burns when wearing it have been reported in the media recently, so it seemed timely to provide some tips for buyers and users.