Announcements

Showing 201 - 225 of 1177 results

Warning about buying used vehicles damaged by Kimberley floods

Consumers urged to be vigilant with risk of flood-damaged vehicles on the market Potential buyers advised to quiz sellers and do online vehicle history checks The vehicles may seem fine at first, but problems could arise after the sale Used vehicle buyers are being warned to carry out thorough checks with the risk of flood-damaged vehicles from the Kimberley being sold on the WA market. While the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
16 Feb 2023

Illegal trading of motor vehicles results in fine for Nollamara man (Indrek Veskioja)

$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. Indrek Veskioja of Nollamarra pleaded guilty to buying 19 vehicles and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Feb 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 15 February 2023), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 25 cents...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Feb 2023

Commissioner's Blog: You can’t buy love but you can buy local this Valentine’s Day

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. For gifts that arrive but aren’t what was advertised online, such as flowers...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 Feb 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Record WA scam losses and victims in 2022

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 -...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Feb 2023

Love is in the air but so are romance and dating scams

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...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Feb 2023

Scam danger for last minute ticket buyers to sold out UFC event

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...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Feb 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today, motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 8 February 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 24 cents per litre (cpl...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Feb 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Watch out for Kimberley flood scams

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...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Feb 2023

More complaints trigger second warning against aircon/trailer trader (Kyle Feisst aka Chris Johnson or John Miller)

14 further complaints received after first public warning issued last year. Consumers now claim to be owed a total of $62,000 for incomplete or no work. Warning not to do business with the air conditioning installer and custom trailer builder. Despite a public warning being issued last year, a Perth air conditioning installer and builder of custom vehicle trailers continues to attract more...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Feb 2023

Online shopping and trading scams hit record WA victims in 2022

Record scam losses of $16 million in 2022 impact record number of victims Almost half of all WA scam victims last year fell for online shopping or trading scams People chasing high investment returns or looking for love lost the most money Western Australians urged to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams Scam losses and the number of reports and victims in Western Australia...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Jan 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. Over the past few weeks, the pattern of petrol pricing by the major fuel companies show a full return to weekly price cycles. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 Jan 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Stay safe this Australia Day

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...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 Jan 2023

More scams target Kimberley flood victims via social media

Kimberley flood victims being targeted by fake offers of financial relief from scammers Bogus charities popping up on social media to steal funds from intended recipients People urged to be on high alert and not respond impulsively to random messages 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...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Jan 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 25 January 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 25 cents per litre (cpl...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Jan 2023

Consumer alert about Perth hotel owner who allegedly incorrectly keeps security bonds (Eddie Kamil / Perth City Apartment Hotel)

Guests claim the hotel incorrectly retains their security bonds 17 consumer complaints against the hotel and its proprietor remain unresolved Consumers advised to consider this alert before making a booking Consumer Protection is raising a consumer alert about a Perth hotel proprietor who allegedly incorrectly retains security bond payments from guests, either wholly or partially. According to a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Jan 2023

Scammers pose as real charity raising funds for flood victims

Scammers have set up fake Instagram account leedal_foundation_limited The real Leedal Foundation Limited is raising funds for flood victims in Fitzoy Crossing on their Facebook fundraiser page Consumers urged to only donate to licensed charities or official fundraisers and not to respond to private messages Consumer Protection is warning consumers about scammers who are posing as a legitimate...
Consumer Protection
Media release
18 Jan 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today, motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 18 January 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 26 cents per litre...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Jan 2023

Motor vehicle seller fined for unlicensed dealing (Van Vinh Tran)

Unlicensed motor vehicle dealer to pay $5,000 fine and $638 in costs 36 vehicles were sold between January and November 2021 Consumers urged to report unlicensed motor vehicle dealers A Beechboro man has been fined $5,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for buying and selling motor vehicles without a valid motor vehicle dealer licence. Van Vinh Tran was also ordered to pay costs of $638 when...
Consumer Protection
Media release
16 Jan 2023

Unauthorised real estate trust account withdrawals result in fines (Mohammad Merzaie / Challenge Real Estate / Swift SM Pty Ltd)

Real estate agent and his company fined a total of $6,500 Multiple unauthorised withdrawals from trust account over four months The money of the agency’s clients put at risk by violations of the law A Magistrate has told a former real estate agent that his clients’ money was put at risk by multiple unauthorised withdrawals from his agency’s trust account. Mohammad Samir Merzaie was fined $2,500...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jan 2023

Commissioner's Blog: Post-Christmas gift returns and gift card rules

With the season of giving now over, many consumers will be considering returning their unwanted Christmas gifts or putting their new gift card in a drawer to spend later. Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), consumers have certain rights when it comes to gifts that are faulty, unsafe, not as described or were not delivered in time. If a gift is faulty, unsafe or not as described, Australian...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jan 2023

WA consumer complaints about used vehicle defects skyrocket

Strong demand results in 730% increase in complaints over five years Delivery delays for new models and sale of flood-affected used vehicles blamed Consumer Protection recovered $6 million for vehicle buyers in the past two years The number of consumer complaints relating to the sale of defective second-hand motor vehicles in WA has skyrocketed, increasing 730% over the past five years and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Jan 2023

Make sure flood donations go to official charities, not scammers

Kimberley flood donors urged to verify that charities are genuine Scammers may set up fake charities on social media and fundraising sites Advice to only donate to licensed charities and do an online check Generous Western Australians wanting to donate to victims of the Kimberley floods are being warned to watch out for scammers who often exploit these events by setting up fake charities. While...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Jan 2023

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today, motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 11 January 2023), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 23 cents per litre...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Jan 2023

Inflated ticket holders at risk of being refused entry to UFC event

Inflated UFC tickets contravening WA’s anti-ticket scalping laws may be cancelled Risk of refused entry to fans with tickets sold for more than ten per cent mark-up Advice for ticket holders who have purchased from unauthorised resellers Consumer Protection is again warning consumers who may have purchased inflated tickets from unauthorised resellers to the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship...
Consumer Protection
Media release
09 Jan 2023

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