Aussie shoppers are being swindled by sneaky overseas salesmen masquerading as local mum-and-dad businesses. It all begins with a heartfelt farewell message - reeling in shoppers with the promise of a closing-down sale. The twist? There was never a bricks-and-mortar store at all, and the products being sold weren’t really local goods at reduced prices.

They’re cheap international goods being sold at inflated prices. The phenomenon’s been dubbed as ‘ghost stores’ - online-only businesses masquerading as struggling Aussie-owned boutiques. Even posting AI photos of fake shop fronts. Unlike other scams, the products do arrive - but when they do, the quality is rubbish. Sharryn Pascoe is among the customers who have fallen victim to the con. She purchased two jumpers online, but when they arrived, they were almost unrecognisable. Experts have said that companies engaging in these kinds of practices could be breaching consumer law, warning consumers can’t identify the con artists.