Online shoppers beware: Seemingly great deals may not be what they appear

In today's world, the ease of online shopping has become a part of everyday life, offering unmatched convenience.

However, with this convenience comes hidden risks as deceptive schemes continue to evolve and target unsuspecting consumers.

A recent incident is a stark reminder of the importance of staying vigilant, recognising warning signs, and taking steps to protect against online fraud.


Bronwyn Hibbs, a 53-year-old Queenslander managing type 1 diabetes for many years, was enticed by a Facebook ad for a 'non-invasive laser glucometer' priced at less than $40.

The device, which claimed to read blood glucose levels using a laser rather than the traditional finger prick method, appeared to be endorsed by Diabetes Australia.


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A Queensland woman was scammed after receiving oximeters instead of laser glucometers. Credit: Facebook


This seemed like a breakthrough for Bronwyn, who was looking for a more convenient way to monitor her condition.

The ad directed her to a website called AussieHaven.shop, which boasted that all its products were made and sold exclusively in Australia.

The site appeared legitimate, and Bronwyn, reassured by the professional look of the website and the promise of a local product, decided to purchase two glucometers for $72.99.


'The outside of the package was what I had ordered,' she said.

'But I opened them up, and it was one of those oximeter things.'

'You can't do anything with [the oximeter] for your blood glucose...it's all lies.'

Instead of the innovative glucometers she was expecting, she found two oximeters, devices used to measure blood oxygen levels and pulse rate but useless for diabetes management.

To add insult to injury, she discovered that $102.67 had been withdrawn from her PayPal account, not the $78.98 she had anticipated.

Bronwyn's attempts to contact AussieHaven for a refund were met with silence.


It was only through persistence and the protection offered by PayPal that she could secure a refund after almost a month of effort.

Unfortunately, many others who fall prey to such scams aren't as lucky and never recover their lost funds.

This scam is part of a more significant, disturbing trend identified by Diabetes Australia.

The organisation's Group CEO, Justine Cain, has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of social media scams targeting Australians living with diabetes.

'We have received a growing number of reports from our community about fraudulent diabetes technology advertising,' she said.

'Some individuals have paid for products that never arrived, while others received devices that provided inaccurate glucose readings, posing a serious, even life-threatening, risk.'


A 2024 Diabetes Australia study found that Australians with the condition spend an average of $4,000 per year, with those who have type 1 diabetes often spending nearly double that of individuals with type 2.

With the rising cost of living, it's no wonder that scammers are exploiting the financial anxieties of those seeking affordable diabetes management solutions.

Bronwyn's story is a stark reminder to always exercise caution when shopping online.

Scamwatch has reported that Australians lost more money to social media scams than any other contact method in 2024.

Despite Bronwyn's report, the fraudulent ads remained active on Facebook for weeks, although they have been removed by Meta, Facebook's parent company.

In hindsight, there were warning signs that Bronwyn missed.


AussieHaven's claim that its products were exclusively Australian-made was contradicted by a return address in Shenzhen, China, and the site's eclectic mix of products should have raised eyebrows.

Additionally, Diabetes Australia confirmed that it does not permit technology companies to use its logo in advertising, a clear indicator of a scam.

If you encounter a suspicious ad or website, don't hesitate to report it to the appropriate authorities and share your experience with our community.

By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and each other from falling victim to these deceitful schemes.
Key Takeaways

  • Bronwyn Hibbs from Queensland was scammed after purchasing what she believed to be non-invasive laser glucometers from an online ad but received oximeters instead.
  • Diabetes Australia is concerned about social media scams targeting Australians living with diabetes, some of which falsely claim an association with the organisation.
  • Australians with diabetes, and especially those with type 1, face high costs for managing their condition, with many anxious about the rising cost of living.
  • Consumers are urged to be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and to always confirm product claims with their diabetes healthcare team to avoid scams.
Have you or someone you know encountered a similar scam? Share your stories and tips in the comments below to help others stay safe while navigating the world of online shopping.
 

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I wouldn't buy anything off facebook.
I have done a check on numerous sites selling things on Facebook and without fail they nearly always come back as very likely a scam.
The reason for the cost rise is that a large number of these sites are based in USA and the price rises considerably when converted to Aussie dollars
A friend had this happen to her even on a site that claimed to be Australian.
Give Facebook ads a wide berth.
 
My husband was very keen to buy this item! It implied it was Diabetes Aust. I couldn’t find any info on their website page! Lucky we didn’t purchase one. Another scam is the one impersonating Amazon! I lost $100 to them this month! Pay pal wouldn’t cover it! My fault but I do buy from Amazon a lot so thought it was genuine! In this case I feel it’s so unfair to target people with illnesses! Take care Bronwyn.
 
i also thought i was getting a bargain purchasing online.i ordered a lot of battery drills advertised on AliExpress site..i spent $99 and all i received was a 10c screwdriver.fortunately i pay with PayPal and they are sorting it out for me
I get ads from AliExpress, and each time I think 'Ali Baba was a thief'.
 
I too find Paypal useful in circumstances like this... if it is an overseas pupchase Paypal is the way to go.The ther scam is that they put the price in US dollars and it the turns into AU Dollars when you go to pay.
 
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I only usePayPal for online purchases. I will only order within Australia or New Zealand. I stopped ordering from other countries a long time ago. Not worth the hassle when things go wrong.
 
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Been bitten once, never again, wasn't even on social media platforms, just a Google add, but I've been warned not to ever buy from Temu! has anyone dealt with them?
 
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Reactions: Iggydi
A few years ago I purchased a car item off of the internet. It was on some random site. I paid $80 through paypal and when it arrived it was in a small envelope and had 2 face masks in the envelope. It was from the address and company I bought it through. I got my money back and hopefully they got shutdown. When buying off the internet for anything it is like a lucky dip
 
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Like I tell hubby all the time, Stop reading adds on FB they are all a scam.

He purchased Hemp gummies for $210 because he was convinced they helped with high blood pressure 🤣 😄
When they arrived the labels were crooked and no ingredients listed

He has now stopped all blood pressure medication plus his diabetes tablets all because so called doctors on fb say they are bad for you. He has been off his Metformin for 12 weeks and blood pressure tabs for 8 weeks. I've managed to take his blood pressure twice and both readings were around 165/110 and he blamed me for wanting to take the reading.
 
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Reactions: DLHM
Like I tell hubby all the time, Stop reading adds on FB they are all a scam.

He purchased Hemp gummies for $210 because he was convinced they helped with high blood pressure 🤣 😄
When they arrived the labels were crooked and no ingredients listed

He has now stopped all blood pressure medication plus his diabetes tablets all because so called doctors on fb say they are bad for you. He has been off his Metformin for 12 weeks and blood pressure tabs for 8 weeks. I've managed to take his blood pressure twice and both readings were around 165/110 and he blamed me for wanting to take the reading.
Shit ,isn't that geyser time!
 
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Been bitten once, never again, wasn't even on social media platforms, just a Google add, but I've been warned not to ever buy from Temu! has anyone dealt with them?
So many people buy from Temu. I live in a village and the Temu deliveries and Shein are keeping them here daily. All I can say is ignore all the spins and promises of free items. I buy all my linen from them, as well as getting presents delivered for free to friends and relatives. Saves heaps. Make sure you check sizes !!!!!
 
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So many people buy from Temu. I live in a village and the Temu deliveries and Shein are keeping them here daily. All I can say is ignore all the spins and promises of free items. I buy all my linen from them, as well as getting presents delivered for free to friends and relatives. Safes heaps. Make sure you check sizes !!!!!
Only people who have never dealt with Temu, or perhaps people who have logged into a fake Temu site, say not to deal with them.
I have been dealing with them since they started up. They are a genuine site, their service and particularly their prices are excellent.
I have bought everything under the sun from them. So many clothes, jumpers,shoes etc that I had to buy another wardrobe (from them).I've bought sheets, towels, donnas, curtains,a shed, a front gate and arch, a barn door cat run, a pantry, shoe cupboard, etc, etc, etc,
What I'm trying to say is you will have no problem with them, just remember to check the sizes of everything, and I mean everything, not just clothes because pictures on the internet can be deceiving.

I bought a couple of Moroccan lanterns for my back patio a n d they were smaller than I thought. My fault I didn't read the dimensions.
I'm a Temu tragic. Be warned, they're addictive, lol.
 
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