Rise in caravan scams in Victoria after lockdown

There’s nothing like hitting the open road after months of lockdown but a rising number of Victorians are being scammed.

Holiday-makers are increasingly finding their wheels are not the real deal in a rising number of caravan scams in Victoria.

There has been 17 reports of caravan scams since October, compared to only two reports in 2019, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Scammers are preying on adventure seekers by advertising caravans online, then making excuses or taking advantage of lockdown limitations, to convince buyers to buy without seeing the caravan.

Buyers are then being persuaded to deposit money in a bank account, with the promise they can come and collect the caravan or it will be delivered to them.

Once the buyer makes the deposit, the scammer stops communicating and the product is never received.

Melbourne woman, Andrea, became victim to the scam after buying a caravan on eBay last October, with the hope of taking it around Australia.

But when its delivery was expected to be on a public holiday, alarm bells went off.

She sent multiple emails to confirm in the lead up and after the expected delivery date, but received no response from the rogue seller.

Consumers are urged to be vigilant when buying a caravan online. iStock image

Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne urged consumers to make sure they see the product in person before shelling out money.

“After a challenging 2020, it’s understandable that many Victorians want to hit the road, but be wary of scammers who want to take advantage of your desire to see the best of what our state has to offer,” she said.

“Being vigilant will save you a lot of time, money and disappointment in the long run.’’

Victorians have lost a combined $1.5 million-plus to online shopping scams in the past year.

Online buyers are urged to be wary of anyone who stops you seeking more information about a product, as this can often be the sign of a scammer.

Originally published as Rise in caravan scams in Victoria after lockdown