Issue Date:  -  Monday, 13 May 2002

Scams Pour In As A Result of Government’s New Intervention

Since the introduction of WAScamNet last month, the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection has had hundreds of items posted, emailed and faxed to them from consumers who have been targeted by fraudsters trying to extort money for inferior and often non-existent goods.

Last month, the three highest profile scams were publicly named, to warn the community against falling victim to glib offers and letters advising of prize wins.

This month with the help of consumers, WAScamNet has more than trebled the number of scams identified for its warning list, with the worst offender being Willoughby and Johnson who are attempting to flood Australia with worthless jewellery and rort victims of up to $US80.

This scam with its origins in New York, USA offers fake lottery wins of up to $US27,500 along with free offers of "valuable" jewellery. Victims never see the lottery winnings and part with fees of up to US$80 for setting the “gemstones” into a piece of jewellery.

A leading Perth Valuer of jewellery has examined the pendant submitted by a consumer and has valued the “jewellery” as worthless. The "garnet gemstone and the diamonds” are of no commercial value, and the 22kt gold chain was found to be a metal, believed to be brass.

"The bait with this scam, is the fact that the consumer is told they have already won thousands of dollars and the jewellery is portrayed as a bonus or keepsake, with only setting and handling fees to pay.

We know of a number of other businesses operating out of the same premises and consumers are strongly warned not to participate in any of the offers made by the businesses named by WAScamNet", Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

Businesses thought to be aligned with Willoughby and Johnson are:

 - Royal International Jewellers of Antwerp
 - Chadwick, Burke & Co.
 - International Merchandise Award Centre
 - First Foreign Equity Group Ltd
 - Reed Benson & Assoc.
 - Coventry Leatherworks

The Department’s May 2002 edition of WAScamNet also names:

 - Nigerian Money Moving Offers (of many kinds and names)
 - International Shipping & Notification Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
 - Payment Facilitation Services, Ontario, Canada
 - Office of Unallocated Awards at Sweepstakes International, London, UK
 - Trans National Trade Consortium, Nova Scotia, Canada
 - North American Award Centre, Missouri, USA

Consumers receiving suspicious offers are asked to forward them to WAScamNet to assist scam profilers in providing early warnings to the community. To join the worldwide fight against scammers:

Email: Forward the email item to: wascamnet@docep.wa.gov.au
Fax: Send the item to fax number: 9282 0862
Mail: Post the item to:
WA ScamNet - Consumer Protection
Reply Paid 64772
Cloisters Square WA 6850
(A postage stamp is not required.)

Further Information: 1300 30 40 54 (Local call cost only)