Door-to-door art sales
Door-to-door trading
The lure of picking up an “original” painting from an up-and coming artist can be hard to resist – especially when the painting is being offered on your doorstep, for a fraction of gallery prices and by a charming young foreigner.
Potential purchasers have been approached in their homes by young people, posing as foreign art students.
They state they have painted the artwork themselves in order to fund their studies or are selling on behalf of fellow art students back in their home country.
It can be difficult to determine whether this is the case or not and in some cases the canvas prints being sold may be available for import from Asia.
The sellers may also suggest an urgency to the sale and encourage potential purchasers to transfer money into their bank accounts on that day. This immediacy allows sellers to make a quick grab for the cash and leave town.
Consumers should always maintain caution when being requested to transfer money directly into bank accounts. Cash payments or wire transfers can make it difficult to track the sellers, or make any claim to a refund, after the transaction has taken place.
Consumers should remember their rights under the Door-to-Door Trading Act (1987), including:
- • Door-to-door sellers carry and produce clear identification;
• For transactions above $50, a written contract must be provided and a copy given to the buyer immediately after signing;
• "THIS CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO A COOLING-OFF PERIOD OF TEN DAYS" must be printed or typed immediately above the place where the consumer signs;
• No payment must be taken inside the 10 day cooling off period; and,
• The consumer is given two notices: a Form 1 notice which provides information about the consumer’s right to withdraw the contract and a Form 2 notice for the consumer to complete if they want to follow through with the withdrawal of the contract.
Under the State’s fair trading legislation, it is an offence to make false representations about the place of origin of goods. Penalties can include fines up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
Some consumers have reported to be happy with the artwork they have purchased. WA ScamNet recommends consumers to be aware of their rights and to be happy with the product before handing over any money.
“Your Rights When Shopping” publication is available from the Department of Commerce website or by calling Consumer Protection’s advice line on 1300 30 40 54 or email.
Scams of a similar type include:
For more scams of this type and others, visit the full list of scams by type page.
