Meat purchase scams are on the rise across social media, prompting a warning for WA consumers to be on alert when considering ways to slash their grocery bills.
Consumer Protection’s WA ScamNet team has received growing reports from victims who have lost up to $500 each to the scams, in which fake butcher or ‘farm-to-table’ profiles are posting in local community pages offering to deliver bulk meat at low prices.
The supposed offers range from $250 for a mixed selection of meats, up to $545 for half a butchered cow or pig.
Buyers are urged to pay via bank transfer, but are blocked from the page once payment occurs and the meat never arrives.
Scrutiny of the reported profiles reveal many are less than six months old and are operated by administrators of other known scam pages, with photos stolen from legitimate butchers based locally and overseas.
So far, the ScamNet team has helped with the removal of two profiles from the platform. There are indications other scam profiles are impersonating genuine butcher or ‘farm-to-table’ businesses by stealing their names and other information.
Aside from the risk of scams, it is illegal for meat to be butchered and sold directly to consumers without having been processed through a licensed abattoir due to food safety issues.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake was concerned these scammers were capitalising on cost-of-living pressures.
“Meat is a significant expense for most families, making these scams particularly attractive during times of financial hardship,” Ms Blake said.
“We suspect more people are being ripped off by these meat scams than is being reported due to the relatively small individual losses in the hundreds of dollars. But because meat is a staple, this scam could generate substantial profits for those behind it.
“Our ScamNet team has had some success in getting pages pulled down, however it is likely the scammers are creating new profiles just as quickly.”
Ms Blake urged consumers to watch out for the signs of a fake butcher business profile.
“Red flags include bulk meat being offered directly from farmers to consumers without the use of an abattoir, and at prices that seem too good to be true,” she said.
“A lack of reviews, likes and comments are another indication, as well as the business not listing a fixed location. If the page is new or has a history of changing its name, that’s another red-flag – checking the ‘About’ section’s page transparency information will reveal this information.
“Be wary of any business on social media demanding payment via bank transfer given the difficulty in retrieving money sent this way, and particularly suspicious if multiple bank accounts are given for the transaction, or if the bank account name is personal, not a business name, or doesn’t match the name of the contact person.”
Scam reports can be lodged via the WA ScamNet website and enquiries can be made by email: consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au or phone: 1300 30 40 54.
