MARCH 2021
     

GOVERNMENT WARNS OF CARAVAN SCAMS

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MORE and more heartless fraudsters are rearing their ugly heads and ripping off would-be caravan owners as COVID restrictions are eased, warns a state government.

The news comes as people wanting to shake off the virus blues create a boom in caravan sales, particularly second hand recreational vehicles.

The Victoria State Government has now issued an urgent warning to people planning a caravan holiday to be vigilant after a surge in cunning scams.

Consumer Affairs Victoria reports having received 17 complaints of swindles since last October, compared with just two in 2019.

Fraudsters are advertising bargain-priced caravans online, then making excuses – or taking advantage of lockdown limitations – to convince buyers not to view the RV in person, encouraging them to make their purchase 'sight unseen'.

They are then persuaded to deposit money into a bank account, with promises they will be able to collect the caravan or that it will be delivered to them.

After the buyer makes the deposit, the scammer disappears into thin air ... and the product is never received.

Victoria's Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne said it was a great time to plan a holiday in the state.

"However, if you're buying a caravan, make sure your wheels are the real deal," she urged bargain hunters.

"After a challenging 2020, it's understandable that many Victorians want to hit the road, but be wary of scammers who want to take advantage of your desire to see the best of what our state has to offer.

"If you're making a major purchase, such as a caravan, make sure to see it in person before you pay any money.

"Being vigilant will save you a lot of time, money and disappointment in the long run."

Melbourne resident Andrea bought a caravan through eBay in October last year, with the hopes of taking it around Australia.

Having successfully bought many other products online, she had no reason to doubt the experience.

It was only when the delivery of the caravan was expected to be on a public holiday that alarm bells were raised for her.

She sent multiple emails for confirmation, both leading up to and following the expected delivery date. When she received no response from the proposed seller, she realised that she had been caught by a scam.

Andrea was one of many Victorians who lost a combined total of more than $1.5 million to online shopping scams in the past year.

When buying online, be wary of anyone who stops you from seeking further information about a product as this can often be a sign of a scammer.

Anyone who believes they may have been involved in an online shopping scam should report it to Consumer Affairs Victoria via consumer.vic.gov.au/reportascam.

* Meanwhile, NT Consumer Affairs is warning people about a website ‒ EM-Caravans.com.au ‒ which purports to be a business selling second-hand caravans and mobile homes at temptingly low prices.

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