Shipping container scams are on the rise as the global shortage of shipping containers has led to market pricing reaching all-time highs, leaving consumers vulnerable to offers of low priced containers. As a reputable supplier to the Australian market, Shipping Containers Pty Ltd’s good name and reputation in the market is being tarnished.  We are aware that other creditable suppliers are also being targeted.

These scams are predominantly conducted online via social media platforms and fraudulent “look-alike” websites using our Intellectual Property, offering products identical to those offered by Shipping Containers Pty Ltd and others.

By offering exceptionally low prices they hope to sell containers that will never be delivered.

Shipping Containers Pty Ltd and affected industry peers have alerted relevant authorities in an attempt to stop this activity as soon as possible. We are also looking to enforce our international IP rights with the global internet community. The sites are typically registered and hosted outside of Australia.

Container fraud is new in Australia but has a long history overseas.  Aside from advertising through social media platforms and look-alike websites scams are often perpetrated through email marketing campaigns.

If the price looks too good to be true then it is almost certainly a scam.

As a bone fide Australian company, you can deal with us in confidence!  We stand behind our product and you have the added protection of Australian Consumer Law.

Known Shipping Container Scams

Note: The businesses and names below may be real businesses and people whose identities are being used by scammers.

How to Protect Yourself From Shipping Container Scams

Protecting yourself from shipping container scams starts with a few simple checks before you pay a deposit. Always insist on visiting the depot in person to inspect the container, verify the seller’s Australian Business Number (ABN) against official records, and never transfer funds via untraceable payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency. If the price looks too good to be true compared with genuine market rates, it almost certainly is.

When you are ready to buy used shipping containers or hire new stock, deal directly with an established, verifiable supplier such as Shipping Containers Pty Ltd, where every unit is inspected and delivery is tracked from depot to door. This is one of the simplest ways to avoid becoming the next victim of shipping container scams.

Reporting Shipping Container Scams

If you believe you have encountered one of the shipping container scams listed above, report it immediately to the Australian Government’s Scamwatch service, which tracks online purchase scams nationally and provides guidance on recovering lost funds. Reporting scams helps authorities shut down fraudulent websites faster and protects other Australians from falling victim to the same shipping container scams.

Shipping Containers Pty Ltd continues to work with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and other industry bodies to shut down the websites behind these shipping container scams as quickly as possible. In the meantime, buyers are encouraged to share this list with friends, family and colleagues who may be shopping for a container, so fewer people fall victim to shipping container scams in the future.