Consumer Protection issues warning on ‘bitumen bandits’ scamming Geraldton residents through asphalt repairs

Consumer Protection has issued a warning about travelling scammers in the Mid West region that have been dubbed the ‘bitumen bandits’. The scammers pose as tradesmen and approach individuals and businesses, offering to perform asphalt and bitumen repairs. The work done is of extremely poor quality, and fails to observe the mandatory 10-day cool-off period. The 10-day cool-off clause is a period to reconsider or cancel a contract without penalty during an unsolicited job. Local business Highway Autobarn was ere approached by two tradies who had allegedly “completed a job nearby” and had leftover materials, offering to re pave their car park for a discounted price. The pattern the scam follows starts by the fake tradies offering unsolicited work, taking a deposit then never completing the job. It is alleged the fake tradesmen have English or Irish accents and wear high-vis clothing to look the part to vulnerable and unsuspecting customers. They use high-pressure sales tactics, going door to door with a price that is quite literally too good to be true and may become aggressive when the offer is declined, saying the offer is only valid for that day. The opportunistic scammers approached local used car dealership Highway Autobarn two weeks ago in the hope they’d fool owner Brendan Bilbe. Mr Bilbe said “He came in a few weeks ago and told us he had leftovers from a job nearby and asked if we wanted our space done, I agreed and said yeah come back to me with a quote — but he never came back”. “I’ve heard about the scam, I knew what he was doing and I think he realised that — I laughed at him a little bit,” Mr Bilbe said. If you encounter the bitumen bandits, Consumer Protection urges you to contact them on 1300 30 40 54 to report there whereabouts with a description, vehicle registration and business name.