Consumer Protection has reported that Western Australians have lost almost $70,000 in scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said most of the scams involved fake websites, social media pages and advertisements in which COVID-19 was used as an excuse for why online purchases had not been delivered.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Lanie Chopping (pictured) said a Perth-based Chinese student lost $13,800 when scammers called to report her COVID-19 results, claiming to be from the Shanghai Medical Centre.
“After being supposedly transferred to Shanghai Police the student was told she was facing criminal charges, and the scammers demanded money to verify her identity and conduct financial checks to prove her innocence,” Ms Chopping said.
“The student also sent a copy of her passport to the scammers.”
She said three victims lost a total of more than $50,000 after purchasing farm machinery from fake websites that used the business names ‘Bora Machinery’ and ‘Coastal Machinery’.
“Victims were directed to another bogus company, ‘Australia MD Transport’, for delivery. Other business names to have used this scam include ‘TQG Farming’ and ‘Coad Machinery’,” Ms Chopping said.
“These consumers ordered second-hand tractors advertised at discounted prices and when the machinery didn’t arrive COVID-19 travel restrictions were used as a reason for the delay.”
She said the websites listed postal addresses that were either those of legitimate businesses or empty parcels of land.
“The increase in online and social media shopping due to COVID-19 store closures has presented scammers with a golden opportunity,” the Commissioner said.
“Scammers are always quick to exploit any situation and are now using the pandemic to give what appears to be credible reasons for bricks and mortar stores doing online and social media sales and using it as an excuse for delivery delays when in fact the product will never turn up,” she said.
