Latest news with #Louis
Sky News AU
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'My heart dropped': Aussie tradie reveals how falling victim to one email scam saw him lose his entire $110,000 home deposit
A young Aussie tradie has shared how he lost his $110,000 first-home deposit after falling victim to a devastating email scam. Electrician Louis May was aged 23 when he saved enough to purchase his first home by working 10-hour shifts, six days a week, for years. He finally found an affordable apartment within his budget at the age of 24 and was "very excited" to be moving into his own home. Louis was tech-savvy, so when he received an email from who he thought was his lawyer, he never thought it would result in him losing his $110,000 house deposit. Louis' lawyer had contacted him using two different email addresses throughout his home purchase process. Therefore, he wasn't surprised when he received another email from a third account instructing him to complete a Property Exchange Australia (PEXA) form. 'I got sent a PEXA form that instructed me to transfer money into a BSB and account number into an ANZ account,' Louis told SBS Insight on Monday. "I didn't really think much of it. I had corresponded for a few days with the new third email address." Louis followed the instructions in the email and checked in with his bank before transferring $110,000 into the ANZ account. However, on the day of his property settlement his lawyer called to inform him that the agreed-upon $110,000 wasn't in his account. "When I said: 'I did what you had told me', and he said 'I'd never emailed you a PEXA form', my heart dropped," Louis said. "That was the moment that I realised I was scammed." In 2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) urged people to verify payment details directly with a business before paying an emailed invoice, amid a rise in losses due to payment scams. Australians in 2023 reported losing $16.2 million to scams like the one that caught Louis, with the amount lost per scam being significantly higher than in 2022. 'Scammers are sophisticated criminals and are becoming more targeted in how they exploit Australian consumers and businesses,' ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said. 'These criminals are posing as genuine businesses that a consumer has recently dealt with, sending fake invoices with altered payment details so that the money ends up with the scammer.' 'This scam is hard to detect because the scammer will either hack into the email system of the business or impersonate the business's email address by changing as little as one letter." Ms Lowe advised people to take the time to call the business on the number they have found to confirm the payment details are correct. In February, Australia introduced the Scams Prevention Framework, imposing obligations on businesses in key sectors where scammers operate, like banks, mobile networks, and social media companies. These sectors are required to take reasonable steps to prevent, detect, disrupt, respond to, and report scams, or face fines of up to $50 million. As for Louis, he was unable to recoup his losses, with his bank offering him a remediation payment of $1,000, which he declined. He was still able to settle on his apartment thanks to a loan from a family member. However, he is now paying an additional $600 a month in interest because he had to take out a larger mortgage, with the ordeal leaving him "pretty heartbroken".
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Louis Tomlinson quits social media after 'conspiracy chats' about his relationship and family
Louis Tomlinson has taken to X, formally known as Twitter, addressing a message to fans regarding conspiracy chat about his relationship with Zara McDermott and his family. Louis Tomlinson has announced his departure from social media platform X (formally known as Twitter), saying that relentless "conspiracy chat" and invasive speculation about his personal life was the final straw. The former One Direction star revealed on Monday that the increasingly toxic conversation online - particularly around his relationship with social media star Zara McDermott, his son Freddie and even his late mother - has become "too much and too hurtful" to ignore. Taking to X, Louis wrote: "The last few months have made it impossible to be on here. All the conspiracy chat about my relationship, my son or even stretching sometimes to opinions on my Mum." "It's just too much and too hurtful for me to see! Thank you to everyone who always has my back," the post concluded. The 33-year-old has been dating 28-year-old Zara McDermott since March 2025, shortly after her split from Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson. The couple's relationship hit headlines earlier this year after they were photographed together on a date in London, and the pair were most recently spotted together at Glastonbury Festival, dancing during Grime artist Skepta's set. The moment was captured by a festival go-er who caught the couple looking loved up together, with Zara resting her head on Tomlinson's shoulder as they enjoyed the music. The TikTok video, which was captioned "Glastonbury is mad because you can be dancing to Skepta and boom Louis Tomlinson is next to you," caused a stir online, prompting both admiration and mocking commentary. But for Louis, the line was crossed when online comments extended to deeply personal matters, particularly about his eight-year-old son Freddie, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Briana Jungwirth, and his late mum Johannah Deakin, who died in 2016 at age 43 after battling leukaemia. Online speculation and comments on Twitter involving Johannah left the singer especially shocked, as did tweets about his late sister Félicité, who died of an accidental overdose in 2019. Louis has faced more recent tragedy with the death of his former bandmate Liam Payne in October 2024, a loss he described in an Instagram tribute as the passing of a "positive, funny, and kind soul." This isn't the first time Tomlinson has addressed online conspiracies. He's previously spoken out about his frustration with fan theories, including the persistent rumour that he and fellow One Direction member Harry Styles were romantically involved. The rumour online has been known as "Larry," a 'ship name' made up by fans by combining both their names. Louis first tweeted in 2013: "Larry is the biggest load of bulls*** I've ever heard. I'm happy, why can't you accept that.' In 2024, he brought up the theory again and said: "What's tough is, I realised this some years ago, there is nothing I can say. There is nothing I can do to dispel the believers of that conspiracy."
Epoch Times
13 hours ago
- General
- Epoch Times
Snap, Shell, or Snow, Peas Are a Summertime Staple
Peas have a special place in French culture and cuisine. One of the earliest cultivated food crops, they achieved a special status at Versailles in Louis XIV's court, where peas were considered 'potager du roi,' or royal fruit. King Louis liked to eat his peas raw. Peas should be finger food, especially those delightfully plump sugar snap peas from farmers markets. These are peas you don't want to cook. So sweet and crunchy, they often don't make it into any dish because I've finished the bag on the drive home.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'Jealous' woman 'stabbed ex on Christmas Day after seeing his Tinder profile'
Louis Price died on the conservatory floor of his parents' home after being knifed by Kirsty Carless, jurors were told. She was on bail after allegedly strangling him a month earlier A 'jealous' woman stabbed her ex in the heart on Christmas Day while on bail for strangling him a month earlier after finding his profile on Tinder, a court heard. Kirsty Carless plunged a kitchen knife into the chest of Louis Price, 31, after seeing his dating profile on Tinder, jurors were told. She was 'fuelled by cocaine and alcohol' when she carried out the murder at his parents' home, prosecutors said. Stafford crown court was told she took a taxi to the property armed with the knife in the early hours of Christmas morning. Carless, 33, was on police bail at the time after allegedly strangling the dad-of-six in November 2024, jurors heard. Prosecutor Jonas Rankin QC said Louis had been considered to be "at very high risk of domestic abuse" before his death. He told the court the couple had been in a 'dysfunctional, abusive and highly volatile relationship' for three years. Carless sent her ex-boyfriend a text the day before his death saying: 'I hate u … I wish you was dead', it is claimed. Mr Rankin said 'things changed' when a friend sent her Louis's Tinder profile via text message. She rang him 45 times in less than half an hour before catching a cab to his parents' home, the court heard. Jurors were told Louis was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife 'more than a foot long' and died on the conservatory floor. Mr Rankin said Carless's her actions were 'motivated by anger and jealousy'. He added: 'She was manipulative, emotionally volatile and jealous." Carless, of Cannock, Staffs, denies murdering Louis in Norton Canes, Staffs, at 3am on Christmas Day also denies possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The trial continues.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Louis Tomlinson slams hurtful comments about Zara McDermott and his late mum - 'It's too much'
One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, who is currently dating Zara McDermott, slammed people making comments about his relationship and his family Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson revealed why he's been absent from X/Twitter as he slammed those prying into his life. The 33-year-old star has been dating Love Island's Zara McDermott for several months, with the two last spotted enjoying the sunshine at Glastonbury Festival. According to a deflated Louis, many have been sharing 'conspiracy' theories about his romance with Zara - who previously dated former Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson for five years. Taking to his X page, he wrote: "The last few months have made it impossible to be on here. " He went on to say there were offensive comments made about his son Freddie, eight, who he shares with ex Brianna Jungwirth. Some also posted opinions about his late mother Johanna Deakin, who died in 2016. "All the conspiracy chat about my relationship, my son or even stretching sometimes to opinions on my Mum," Louis said. "It's just too much and too hurtful for me to see! Thank you to everyone who always has my back!" Before the tweet, he last posted on July 8, writing: "So excited to be back on stage tomorrow. Feels like a while! Who's coming?!!" His most recent Instagram post was a slew of snaps from his time at Worthy Farm with pals and Zara. Loyal fans rushed to the comment section to share their support for him. One concerned user said: "There are way too many that support you no matter what; please believe that there are amazing fans always here for you!" "Your true fans will always have your back. The ones that respect you for you, your talent, and let you live a life. "Those people are the ones you should be thankful for," another fan commented. One fan added: "So so proud of you, tell them haters Louis!!!" Louis previously discussed his annoyance over theories made about him. A famous one claimed Louis and 1D star Harry Styles enjoyed a romantic relationship. He tweeted in 2012: "Larry is the biggest load of bulls*** I've ever heard. I'm happy, why can't you accept that.' In 2024, he brought up the theory again and said: "What's tough is, I realised this some years ago, there is nothing I can say. There is nothing I can do to dispel the believers of that conspiracy. "It does irritate me a little bit, you know? But it is just kind of the nature of the job, I suppose.'
