Bitumen scam targets homeowners, leaving many out of pocket: ‘Just the dodgiest’
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An alarming trend has emerged: scams are on the rise, not only in the digital realm but also in our everyday lives.
While online scams continue to target unsuspecting individuals through phishing emails, fake websites, and social engineering tactics, it's crucial not to overlook the growing occurrence of real-life scams.
One such case involves the 'bitumen scam', leaving home and business owners out of pocket.
Consumer Protection is warning locals in WA, urging them to steer clear of at least eight road construction companies—reportedly linked to an 'international organised scam' originating in the UK and Ireland—currently travelling around the state.
These companies offer seemingly attractive prices to re-surface bitumen driveways and car parks, but they often leave behind substandard work, making matters worse than before.
The conmen, known as 'bitumen bandits', use sub-standard materials, demand higher fees than initially quoted and even resort to threats, claiming they'll destroy the completed work if their invoices aren't promptly paid.
In Perth's outer suburbs, one family lives in fear within their own home, all because they refused to pay scammers.
Katie, a resident of Perth's hills, was approached with an offer to resurface her driveway. She remembered one of the workers saying, 'We need to offload this bitumen; it's raining, and we're currently working on Main Roads just down the road.'
With promises of a high-quality job, Katie eagerly agreed. However, when the work was completed, she was left with nothing but loose gravel and an $8,000 bill, which she now adamantly refuses to pay.
'These are just the dodgiest con men,' she said.
In the past nine months, Consumer Protection has received more than 30 complaints, including hers, including dodgy invoices totalling over $264,000.
In one unfortunate case in Derby, the bitumen washed away the next day due to rain, yet the customer was still invoiced for an astonishing $33,000.
Similarly, in Broome, someone received an invoice for $32,000, far exceeding the initial quote of $7,000.
It was reported that scammers targeted businesses and homeowners in various regional areas, including Albany, Australind, Bunbury, Picton, Williams, Narrogin, Wongan Hills, Collie, Boddington, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Derby, Carnarvon, Karratha, Broome, as well as several suburbs in the Perth metropolitan area.
Consumer Protection warned consumers and businesses to avoid the following eight companies and their directors, conveniently registered in WA or over east:
'These scam con artists will leave you with dodgy work, harass you for payment and quickly move on, making it difficult for customers and authorities to catch up with them,' Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake said.
'If you have already had bitumen works done by any of these companies and are unsatisfied, we recommend not paying the invoice and reporting it to Consumer Protection.'
Consumer Protection is working closely with authorities across the country, including WA Police, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Home Affairs and other Australian Consumer Law regulators to identify action that may be taken against the mentioned scammers.
Victims were urged to report any scams to Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or [email protected]
Members, here's some friendly advice: don't fall for those pushy sales tactics from the companies or individuals we've mentioned. Instead, always make it a habit to get quotes from trustworthy local tradespeople.
We hope you found this article informative! Have you had any similar experiences recently? Share them with us in the comments below.
While online scams continue to target unsuspecting individuals through phishing emails, fake websites, and social engineering tactics, it's crucial not to overlook the growing occurrence of real-life scams.
One such case involves the 'bitumen scam', leaving home and business owners out of pocket.
Consumer Protection is warning locals in WA, urging them to steer clear of at least eight road construction companies—reportedly linked to an 'international organised scam' originating in the UK and Ireland—currently travelling around the state.
The scammers offer to re-surface bitumen driveways and car parks at attractive prices but then radically hike the charges when the job is done. Credit: 7NEWS.
These companies offer seemingly attractive prices to re-surface bitumen driveways and car parks, but they often leave behind substandard work, making matters worse than before.
The conmen, known as 'bitumen bandits', use sub-standard materials, demand higher fees than initially quoted and even resort to threats, claiming they'll destroy the completed work if their invoices aren't promptly paid.
In Perth's outer suburbs, one family lives in fear within their own home, all because they refused to pay scammers.
Katie, a resident of Perth's hills, was approached with an offer to resurface her driveway. She remembered one of the workers saying, 'We need to offload this bitumen; it's raining, and we're currently working on Main Roads just down the road.'
With promises of a high-quality job, Katie eagerly agreed. However, when the work was completed, she was left with nothing but loose gravel and an $8,000 bill, which she now adamantly refuses to pay.
'These are just the dodgiest con men,' she said.
In the past nine months, Consumer Protection has received more than 30 complaints, including hers, including dodgy invoices totalling over $264,000.
In one unfortunate case in Derby, the bitumen washed away the next day due to rain, yet the customer was still invoiced for an astonishing $33,000.
Similarly, in Broome, someone received an invoice for $32,000, far exceeding the initial quote of $7,000.
It was reported that scammers targeted businesses and homeowners in various regional areas, including Albany, Australind, Bunbury, Picton, Williams, Narrogin, Wongan Hills, Collie, Boddington, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Derby, Carnarvon, Karratha, Broome, as well as several suburbs in the Perth metropolitan area.
Consumer Protection warned consumers and businesses to avoid the following eight companies and their directors, conveniently registered in WA or over east:
- Bitumen Road Services Pty Ltd (Director Andrew Watson);
- Road Tech Oz Pty Ltd (Director Jack Reagan Maskell);
- Road Tech Construction Oz Pty Ltd (Director Anthony Kenneth Lee);
- Regional Civils Pty Ltd (Director Jay Brough);
- Top Coat Civils Pty Ltd (Director Gabriel Thomas O'Malley Mackerness);
- Rolo Bitumen Pty Ltd (Director Lee Desmond Rowland);
- Civil Highways Pty Ltd (Director Jonathan Michael Hovvels); and
- Ground Fix Landscapes Pty Ltd (Director James Lee).
'These scam con artists will leave you with dodgy work, harass you for payment and quickly move on, making it difficult for customers and authorities to catch up with them,' Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake said.
'If you have already had bitumen works done by any of these companies and are unsatisfied, we recommend not paying the invoice and reporting it to Consumer Protection.'
Consumer Protection is working closely with authorities across the country, including WA Police, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Home Affairs and other Australian Consumer Law regulators to identify action that may be taken against the mentioned scammers.
Victims were urged to report any scams to Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or [email protected]
Members, here's some friendly advice: don't fall for those pushy sales tactics from the companies or individuals we've mentioned. Instead, always make it a habit to get quotes from trustworthy local tradespeople.
We hope you found this article informative! Have you had any similar experiences recently? Share them with us in the comments below.
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