It’s only early November but many consumers are already searching for great deals as they plan for their Christmas and New Year celebrations yet, as always, it is a case of buyer beware especially when it comes to shopping online. This year our WA ScamNet team has received reports about fake websites selling everything from toys to barbecues and outboard motors. Buyers pay for the items which are...

Recent hikes in fuel prices have left many consumers searching for the best deal and trying to understand the reasons behind fluctuating prices. The price of fuel, like other retail products, is market driven and the government does not set the price. Consumer Protection operates the FuelWatch website which offers transparency in terms of what the prices at the pumps will do in the next 24 hours...

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 12 cents per litre (cpl) to 162.5 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 30 October 2018, most Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (an increase of 19.4 cpl). Most BP and Caltex sites are increasing their ULP price to 165.9...

These days, it pays to be extra vigilant on social media. Like-harvesting, or like-farming as it is also called, is a scam perpetuated throughout Facebook and features bogus pages designed to do nothing more than “harvest” your likes. The content pulls at your heartstrings or offers big prizes leading you to like, share and comment. Recently, a fake Virgin Australia page offering a trip to Hawaii...

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 12 cents per litre (cpl) to 164.4 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 23 October 2018, most 7-Eleven, Caltex and Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 167.9 cpl (hiking between 14 and 16 cpl). Most BP sites are increasing their ULP...

An illegal motor vehicle dealer has been fined $25,000 and ordered to pay costs of $916 after being convicted in the Perth Magistrates Court of buying and selling vehicles without a licence. Mark Wayne Williams , who resides in Kensington and formerly operated in Kenwick under the trading name of Car 1 Vehicle Wholesale , was convicted in his absence on 12 October 2018 after purchasing 51...

The McGowan Government will this week introduce a Bill into State Parliament to provide greater protections for long-stay tenants at residential parks in Western Australia. The Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Bill 2018 will ensure fairer dealings and security of contract between park operators and their long-stay tenants. Key reforms include: Limiting the termination of fixed-term...

Losses suffered by WA scam victims are mounting after they were conned into paying for puppies that don’t exist. Fake advertisements are appearing on websites, online trading sites and social media platforms that feature cute photos and cheap prices, making them irresistible to puppy buyers. So far this year 28 consumers have reported losing a total of $51,000. In 2017, 42 people reported losing...

An unlicensed motor vehicle dealer has been fined $1,200 and ordered to pay costs of $205 by the Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty on 5 October 2018. Fadel Ali of Langford had bought and sold 24 motor vehicles between August 2016 and March 2018 without a licence, in breach of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said unlicensed dealing...

Tenants will be allowed to affix furniture to walls, preventing them from toppling over New laws introduced following the tragic death of Reef Kite The McGowan Government will introduce the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 to State Parliament this week, which will provide better protections to residential tenants and their children. Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act...

The average price of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 13 cents per litre (cpl) to 160.7 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 2 October 2018, all Coles Express sites are hiking their ULP price to 165.9 cpl (an increase of 20 cpl). Most Caltex sites are hiking their ULP price to 163.9 cpl, most Puma...

The average cost of unleaded petrol is set to increase by around 13 cents per litre (cpl) to 158.3 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Tuesday 25 September 2018, all Coles Express sites are increasing their ULP price to 163.9 cpl (an increase of 20 cpl). Most Caltex Woolworths, Puma, BP and Caltex sites are increasing...