URGENT UPDATE: Australians are falling victim to a wave of fraudulent social media advertisements promoting non-existent sky lantern festivals. Consumer Protection officials are sounding the alarm as reports flood in from individuals who have paid up to $50 for tickets to events that have never been scheduled or authorized.
Victims have been lured by convincing online ads that direct them to fake websites such as AU Skylight Event, Lantern Fest Australia, and Sky Dreams Australia. Investigators discovered alarming red flags, including a US address and UK phone numbers, alongside glaring spelling errors—like “Sidney” instead of “Sydney.” While ScamNet has taken down these fraudulent sites, new ones are springing up, such as UK The Sky Light Event, indicating that scammers are cleverly relaunching under different names to evade detection.
These deceptive ads create a false sense of urgency by marking certain dates as sold out, pushing consumers to act quickly. Trish Blake, the Consumer Protection commissioner, expressed grave concern over the increasing number of potential victims. “Scammers know that if they make an event look popular by marking some dates as ‘sold-out’, people are more likely to rush into buying tickets,” she stated.
Adding to the alarm, these websites often claim that ticket details and event locations will only be released 48 hours before the event—an unusual practice not seen in legitimate ticketing. This tactic leaves many consumers unaware that they’ve been scammed until it’s far too late, often discovering the truth only upon arriving at a venue that does not exist.
Blake cautioned that the window for recovering funds through banks may already be closed by the time victims realize they have been duped. “Because the events are advertised for future dates, many consumers may not realise they’ve been scammed until it’s too late,” she warned.
To protect themselves, consumers are urged to verify the legitimacy of any event advertised on social media. Blake recommended checking the registration details of websites using the ICANN registration data lookup tool. “If the site is new or hides this information, it’s best to stay away,” she advised.
With scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated, the urgency for vigilance has never been higher. If you or someone you know has fallen prey to these scams, immediate action is crucial. Share this information widely to help others avoid becoming victims of these deceptive schemes.
