False advertising: Don’t fall for fake reviews
Wanting a night out with friends? Keen to try something new? Do a quick Google search and up comes a bunch of restaurants nearby, one with far more positive reviews than the rest. But are they real? Fake reviews for everything from bakeries to dental services are abundant on the internet, and separating them from the real deal can take time and effort.
It’s hard to know exactly how many aren’t genuine, with estimates varying from about 10 percent to a third of all online reviews. Google is home to six times as many reviews as any other portal, even it has trouble keeping up. Last year the search engine said it removed 95 million reviews that did not meet its guidelines.
Sharp practice: Don’t take short cuts with cosmetic surgery
All surgery comes with risks and cosmetic surgery is no different. But with even the national medical regulator acknowledging that the industry’s profit-driven culture puts patients in danger, just how risky is it to go under the knife?
Toyota paint peel proves power in numbers
When paint started peeling off his Toyota Corolla in great chunks, Chris McInerney thought maybe he had done something wrong.
But a little digging showed that he was far from alone. A problem with primer paint on several makes and models had even resulted in Toyota Canada extending warranties by up to 14 years.
Road danger: Hyundai owners warn of car failures while driving
Mandie Cowley was driving with her daughter on a busy regional highway in Victoria when her Hyundai started losing power.
“The only place I could pull over was on a bend and there was a lot of trucks. I was absolutely petrified that a truck was going to come up behind me and hit the car,” she said.
Michael Steele’s son, still a P-plater, was driving his Dad’s car at a similar high speed on a country highway in Queensland when it made a grinding sound.
"And it just came to a halt, nothing was working. He was very lucky to get it to the side of the road,” Michael said.
Nina Persin’s partner was driving at 100kmh on the Pacific Motorway, in south-east Queensland, roads still slippery from the floods, when his engine seized up.
“There was no warning light, nothing,” she said. “When the engine seized, the brakes stopped working, as did the steering wheel. My partner had huge difficulties steering the car away from the right-hand lane, avoiding the trucks on the road, towards the left lane.
“I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened."
Is there anything good about counterfeit goods?
Scammers like to take advantage of what’s popular and urgent. It’s no wonder that in a time of fear and uncertainty, scams spread like a virus, offering fake solutions and knock-off items. We have to be careful because as much as they’re after our money, they’re also out for our personal details and access to our computer. How can you avoid being duped? We’ve rounded up some of the most common trends in fake goods, plus helpful tips to avoid counterfeit tricks.
As more Australians are renting, their voice is getting louder
Our homes are supposed to be a safe haven; even when we are renting. And we want to feel relaxed and stress-free in our abodes.
Skincare products you won’t want to share
Knock-offs have been around forever. However, we are seeing more fake products being made and sold around the globe. So does that mean that fakes are getting better or worse for quality and safety? And what is so appealing about fake products anyway?
Top tips to combat credit card fraud
Checking our card statements should be an easy and hassle-free process, but what if a transaction you see surprises you? The suspicious amount might be a low value ride-share transaction you do not recognise. Or it might be a seriously large purchase that you know you definitely did not buy. Either way, your heart will skip a beat when you realise you have been stung by credit card fraud.
How to spot a knock-off and what can happen if you own one
Our confidence and skills with online shopping are improving every day, which means we’re becoming more adventurous with our purchases. Clothes, snacks, bath essentials, shoes, whatever it is we’re looking for, there's surely an online store selling it. But, what can we do if the product we bought was actually a knock-off?
#TravelAdventures await – tips on keeping your travel money safe during COVID
We all have our dream travel destinations in post COVID times. Due to the abrupt halt to travel, many of us have money stored in foreign currency and on travel cards. We’re trusting our travel money is safe until we can travel again. However there are some recent changes affecting travel money.