CAT has received information advising that travelling con-artists, known as ‘bitumen bandits’, have again arrived in Tasmania to pursue their seasonal scam. The scam involves unsolicited offers of cheap bitumen resurfacing services, painting or roofing repairs. After a victim has paid for the work, it is either left undone or is completed to a very poor standard. The con-artists continue scamming consumers until moving to another state or returning overseas.
Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Tasmania advise all consumers to do their due diligence when agreeing to work with service providers and suppliers, and it is best practice to seek multiple quotations from reputable tradespeople.
Consumer Protection Western Australia has identified a number of business names used by these particular con-artists, a list of which is available here: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/bitumen-bandits-named-organised-scam-operation
For more information on avoiding and reporting scams, please visit the CAT website: https://www.consumeraffairs.tas.gov.au/topics/products-services/buying/avoid-scam