Rapid antigen test shortage in Australia sees rise in scams

Aussie customers trying to snag rapid antigen tests are potentially being duped by scammers or dodgy retailers, consumer experts have warned. Here’s what to look out for

Aussie customers trying to snag rapid antigen tests are potentially being duped by scammers or dodgy retailers, consumer experts have warned.
As the shortage of the quick result tests continues, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission revealed on Monday it had received more than 50 complaints of RAT scam activity since New Year’s Day.

“From 1 January – 16 January 2022, ScamWatch has received approximately 50 reports about rapid antigen tests (RATs), with around $4,000 in losses reported,” an ACCC spokesman said.

Customers keen to snag a hard to come by rapid antigen test have been warned scammers are about. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“The majority of the scam reports relate to allegations of price gouging by retailers, individuals reselling RATs at marked up prices and fake websites purporting to sell RATs.”

It comes as the ACCC also reported almost 1500 complaints over the holiday season from customers who had ordered RATs from retailers and not received them.

Between December 25 and January 11, 1434 complaints were received from angry shoppers, including 879 complaints about pharmacies, 283 for convenience stores, tobacconists and supermarkets as well as 272 complaints about service stations.

The ACCC reported 50 claims of RAT scam activity in the past two weeks since January 1. Picture: Damien MEYER / AFP

It comes as Australia continues to grapple with a critical RAT shortage. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

The industry watchdog said it was investigating any potential RAT scams.

“The ACCC is also continuing to investigate potential scams after receiving increasing reports of online stores wrongly accepting payment, meaning the stores did not intend to supply the tests or knew, or should have known, that they would not be able to supply the tests in a timely manner,” an ACCC statement read.

The ACCC also reported instances of retailers only taking RAT payments in cash, refusing to give customers a receipt or selling RATs labelled as other objects, as well as individual tests being pulled from multipacks and sold separately without instructions.

In total, the ACCC received over 6,415 scam reports mentioning Covid with more than $9.8 million in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Kate Browne from Finder.com.au

The Therapeutic Goods Administration also said it was investigating a number of fraudulent test sale claims including RATs which aren’t on the approved list of 22 tests being imported and sold.

Finder personal finance expert Kate Browne said multiple reports had also surfaced of scammers posting in community groups of social media encouraging them to buy tests.

Ms Browne warned people seeking out rapid antigen tests to watch for a few key signs they were being scammed.

“Check the web address if you’re buying online, make sure there’s a little locked icon on the left hand side,” she said.

“If you’re buying directly from someone and they’re being fairly vague, that’s a red flag. Be cautious about what personal details you give them … the premise could be buying RATs but could lead to things like identity theft.”

It comes as 1.2 million RATs ordered by the NSW government flew into Sydney Airport on Monday.

Originally published as Rapid antigen test shortage in Australia sees rise in scams