A South Australian family has been left $10,000 out of pocket after being targeted by travelling conmen known as "bitumen bandits" at their Renmark grocery store. The Vu family, who run an Asian grocer in the Riverland region, handed over the money after the men approached them claiming to have leftover bitumen from nearby roadworks — only to be met with substandard work and demands for even more cash before the job would be completed.
How the Bitumen Bandit Scam Unfolded
Thuc Vu had been looking forward to sealing the area outside his family business when a group of men posing as tradies made their approach, presenting what seemed like a timely and convenient offer. The pitch — that they had surplus bitumen from a local roadworks project and could do the job at a good price — appeared legitimate enough to accept.
The family paid $10,000 for the work, but what followed was a stark disappointment. The men delivered a poor-quality result and then pushed for additional money before they would finish the job.
"My kindness was put in the wrong person, the wrong people," Thuc Vu said.
His son Vinnie expressed deep regret for his parents, who had worked hard to accumulate the money that was lost. "I feel really sorry for my parents because I know how hard they worked to make that money," he said.
Authorities Investigating a String of Similar Cases
Consumer and Business Services has confirmed the Vu family were targeted by the type of travelling fraudsters commonly referred to as bitumen bandits. The agency is now pursuing the bank account into which the payment was made, as well as the phone number listed on the invoice provided to the family.
Investigators are also looking into whether the same group of men is responsible for at least five other similar complaints received in July alone, suggesting a pattern of activity across the Riverland and surrounding areas.
Consumer and Business Services Commissioner Brett Humphrey warned that these cases are particularly difficult to resolve because victims frequently pay in cash, leaving authorities with little to trace. "Often the consumer pays in cash and there's no follow-ups that can be done," he said. "These consumers have all been left with a hefty bill to fix the mess that has been left by this company."
Family Accepts the Loss, Urges Others to Stay Alert
Despite the best efforts of investigators, the Vu family has come to terms with the likelihood that they will never recover the $10,000. Rather than dwelling on the financial loss, they say their focus has shifted to making sure no other family suffers the same fate.
"We've accepted the fact we've lost the money. Our goal now is to spread awareness and hopefully try to stop families from going through the same situation as us," Vinnie Vu said.
Residents across regional South Australia are being urged to be cautious of unsolicited offers from tradespeople claiming to have leftover materials from nearby projects. Experts advise always verifying a tradesperson's credentials, obtaining multiple quotes, and avoiding cash payments wherever possible.
