Advertisments for bogus events or festivals are spreading across social media, prompting a warning for WA consumers to be on alert for scams and avoid buying tickets to events that do not exist.

The sponsored social media ads are directing consumers to professional-looking fake websites offering event tickets for around $50 each in various cities across Australia, including Perth. These sites encourage payment via credit card and the entry of personal information, which if provided will be captured and potentially misused by scammers. With certain event dates marked as ‘sold-out’ and later dates appearing available, consumers may not realise they have been scammed until it is too late to submit a chargeback request with their financial provider.

Lantern festivals scams 

Social media ads for fake sky lantern festivals are on the rise.

The scammers claims that “biodegradable and recycled” paper lanterns will be released into the sky, but no such event has been scheduled or approved to operate at either Kings Park or Langley Park.

Please note, it is illegal for open flame lanterns to be released in Australia due to the significant fire and burns hazard they pose.

Halloween Wonderland scam

Bogus event called Halloween Wonderland offering multiple activities including thrilling rides, live shows and circus, haunted zone attractions, firework shows and more that would be held at several locations in Australia, including Kings Park in Perth. 

Kings Park and Botanic Gardens have confirmed that no such event is being held at the venue. 

How to protect yourself

• Be wary of websites selling goods well below market prices.
• Look at the overall quality of the website, grammatical errors in text and poorly edited images.
• Be very suspicious if scammers ask you to pay via electronic funds transfer or using a money order, pre-loaded money card or a crypto currency such as Bitcoin; as it’s rare to recover money that is sent this way.
• Use payment methods such as credit card or PayPal, which allow you to dispute transactions when you do not receive the goods or something else goes wrong.
• Take the time to locate the real website of the legitimate business and contact them independently to verify their offer is genuine.
• Do an internet search of the website and business to read comments and reviews from other consumers who have used the same site.
• Ask to see and inspect the goods in person.
• Consider contacting the local council or the venue stated for the event.

❗️ Do NOT buy from these websites 

WA ScamNet warns consumers not to buy event tickets from the following fraudulent websites. While WA ScamNet will try to remove fake websites and social media pages as soon as possible, they warn that scam pages often quickly reappear under different names – so ongoing caution is advised:

• AU Skylight Event - https://au.skylightevent.com
• Lantern Fest Australia - https://lanternfestaustralia.com
• Sky Dreams Australia - https://skydreamsaustraliaevent.com
• UK The Sky Light Event - https://ca.skylightevent.com/
• Halloween Wonderland - https://uk.theskylightevent.com/
• Pumpkin Festival - https://aus-halloween.homicats.com/