Well, it’s taken 15 years, but I’d say we’ve seen the end of that counterfeit Furby racket.
Well, it’s taken 15 years, but I’d say we’ve seen the end of that counterfeit Furby racket.

Cheers.
Cheers.

It’s a shame you had to kill the mayor though.
It’s a shame you had to kill the mayor though.

Yeah.
Yeah.

So seems our comrades in the Sunshine State are having a bit of trouble with a scam
So seems our comrades in the Sunshine State are having a bit of trouble with a scam

involving booking accommodation online..
involving booking accommodation online..

Fancy a trip to Surfers Paradise?
Fancy a trip to Surfers Paradise?

Good as gold.
Good as gold.

Coast.
Coast.

Different city.
Different city.

Same scams.
Same scams.

Sorry, we’re late, we went to Warner Bros Movie World
Sorry, we’re late, we went to Warner Bros Movie World

It’s a wonderful theme park, thank you for coming.
It’s a wonderful theme park, thank you for coming.

You both come highly recommended by the Chief, who is an entirely different person to me.
You both come highly recommended by the Chief, who is an entirely different person to me.

What a strange thing to say.
What a strange thing to say.

This is Jill - Jill, tell them about the scam.
This is Jill - Jill, tell them about the scam.

Well I’ve always wanted to see the Gold Coast.
Well I’ve always wanted to see the Gold Coast.

Naturally
Naturally

So I booked an apartment online, through AirBnB.
So I booked an apartment online, through AirBnB.

Ok
Ok

But then I got an email from the owner of the apartment, saying the dates didn’t work,
But then I got an email from the owner of the apartment, saying the dates didn’t work,

but he had another property.
but he had another property.

There was a link to it in the email.
There was a link to it in the email.

Go on
Go on

I clicked on the link, and it took me back to AirBnB.
I clicked on the link, and it took me back to AirBnB.

Seemed like a nice property, had good reviews.
Seemed like a nice property, had good reviews.

So I booked and paid.
So I booked and paid.

And then what happened?
And then what happened?

I came all the way down here from Mackay
I came all the way down here from Mackay

Get that into ya.
Get that into ya.

There’s no booking!
There’s no booking!

I contacted AirBnB.
I contacted AirBnB.

They've got no record of it!
They've got no record of it!

How could this have happened?
How could this have happened?

We’re going to need to need some time to work this over.
We’re going to need to need some time to work this over.

Can you recommend somewhere that we can think?
Can you recommend somewhere that we can think?

Of course.
Of course.

It doesn’t make any sense.
It doesn’t make any sense.

I know.
I know.

Dolphins should not be that smart.
Dolphins should not be that smart.

It troubles me.
It troubles me.

I mean this case.
I mean this case.

Jill did everything right.
Jill did everything right.

Now how did she pay for that booking?
Now how did she pay for that booking?

Jill says AirBnB told her to wire the money to the host.
Jill says AirBnB told her to wire the money to the host.

Well that doesn’t sound right.
Well that doesn’t sound right.

I know
I know

It’s like they’re talking.
It’s like they’re talking.

Planning.
Planning.

No I mean, AirBnB would never ask someone to wire money directly to a host..
No I mean, AirBnB would never ask someone to wire money directly to a host..

Unless...phishing.
Unless...phishing.

Fishing?
Fishing?

Phishing, with a PH.
Phishing, with a PH.

It’s a scam where scammers will pretend to be a legitimate company in order to get your data, your information,
It’s a scam where scammers will pretend to be a legitimate company in order to get your data, your information,

or in some cases, your money.
or in some cases, your money.

They often use bogus web or email addresses that look really similar to the addresses of legitimate companies.
They often use bogus web or email addresses that look really similar to the addresses of legitimate companies.

So in this case...
So in this case...

So in this case the scammers uploaded the first apartment onto the real AirBnB
So in this case the scammers uploaded the first apartment onto the real AirBnB

That's bait
That's bait

And when Jill responded to them, they responded with a link to a different property in it.
And when Jill responded to them, they responded with a link to a different property in it.

But that link doesn't go to the real AirBnB.
But that link doesn't go to the real AirBnB.

It goes to a fake website that looks like AirBnB
It goes to a fake website that looks like AirBnB

And they use that site to scam her.
And they use that site to scam her.

We have to go tell the chief.
We have to go tell the chief.

After the porpoises.
After the porpoises.

After the porpoises.
After the porpoises.

They weren't turtles at all!
They weren't turtles at all!

They were tortoises wearing little flippers!
They were tortoises wearing little flippers!

Times have changed though.
Times have changed though.

Poor Jill, she never stood a chance.
Poor Jill, she never stood a chance.

When you’re booking online, like Jill, it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.
When you’re booking online, like Jill, it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

But there are red flags.
But there are red flags.

Oh?
Oh?

For example AirBnB will never ask you to wire them money, or to go through a third party.
For example AirBnB will never ask you to wire them money, or to go through a third party.

All the transactions take place on their website.
All the transactions take place on their website.

That’s good advice for any booking website.
That’s good advice for any booking website.

Absolutely
Absolutely

Never make private payment arrangements with a seller when you can go through the company itself.
Never make private payment arrangements with a seller when you can go through the company itself.

And be wary of any email that asks you to provide or verify personal information.
And be wary of any email that asks you to provide or verify personal information.

Double check web and email addresses to make sure they're legitimate
Double check web and email addresses to make sure they're legitimate

Never click links on suspicious looking emails
Never click links on suspicious looking emails

And if you're really uncertain, find the company's phone number on a publicly listed source,
And if you're really uncertain, find the company's phone number on a publicly listed source,

and call them up to check if the email was from them or a scammer
and call them up to check if the email was from them or a scammer

I suppose that does make sense.
I suppose that does make sense.

Freeze!
Freeze!

...some margaritas for me, that is!
...some margaritas for me, that is!

CHIIIIIEF!
CHIIIIIEF!