Latest news with #RogueTraders
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a travel expert but Booking.com host scam nearly caught me out'
For years holidaymakers have been losing cash through a scam that targets customers who have made bookings on Milo Boyd takes a look at why it's still catching out people As my thumb hovered over the link, the BBC's Rogue Traders researcher, who was helpfully sitting next to me, said: 'I'm pretty sure that's a scam. Block the number and don't click the link." I did as advised and felt a sense of relief at a bullet dodged, followed by a tinge of embarrassment at having almost fallen for a travel scam. That would be a bad look, given my job title and the fact I was at a travel event surrounded by colleagues when the message came through. In my defence, it was pretty convincing. The WhatsApp message arrived with a name and photo attached just after a bit of back-and-forth with the actual host on the site. The 'guest relations manager' mentioned where and when I was going, and when I made the reservation. All would be well with the booking, they assured me, so long as I could confirm that my card details were not stolen - something the system had flagged to them as a possibility. A quick click of the link to confirm my details and I'd be off on holiday as planned, no problem, they promised. I screenshotted the messages and blocked the account, repeating the process for the 'head administrator of the apartments' who later followed up on her colleague's behalf. In this instance, a scam avoided, but plenty of questions remained. How had they got my details? How much would they've stolen if I had clicked the link? How many others are being targeted this way? The answer to the first question came several days after I explained what had happened to A customer service representative apologised before blaming the security breach on the host, saying that they must have had their own website infected with malware, giving the hackers access to my information. This is an issue for websites such as which send customers to third-party websites. These are often run by B&B owners or holiday let landlords with one property, who are unlikely to have the same security resources as a major travel firm. Potentially adding to the security issues is the fact that it takes less than 15 minutes to set up a host page, with no requirement to show a passport or official ID. In terms of the second and third questions, the amounts stolen and the number of victims are significant. The scam has been bubbling along for years, with the UK's Action Fraud having received 532 reports from individuals, with a total of £370,000 lost between June 2023 and September 2024. Between them, they are more than £370,000 out of pocket. They may also have been victims of a breach of their data rights. Several years ago was slapped with a €475K fine for failing to take action following a GDPR breach. If anything, the problem seems to be getting worse. Last June, admitted that there had been an increase of between 500 and 900 per cent in scams carried out on the platform in the previous 18 months. In 2023 Dr Leigh Jones, a University of Oxford academic, told the Mirror how she had lost more than £1,000 at the hands of scammers after she booked multiple hotel rooms for her family ahead of her wedding day in Vietnam. "It was a really impressive phishing scam. After this, I will be done with Why is there no warning on their website? I'd advise people to switch to another way to booking holidays," she told the Mirror at the time. Earlier this year Which? found that some customers had been contacted by scammers through the company's official app, making it much harder to distinguish it from a genuine message from a host. Not only are customers losing money, the scammers are causing accommodation operators major headaches. Balaram Thapa runs a hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal. Recently, one of his customers fell victim to a phishing scam. "One of our guests booked a room at our hotel through received a confirmation, and then later got a message that appeared to come from us, asking them to reconfirm their payment via a third-party link. It looked completely legitimate, with our hotel name and reservation details included," the hotelier explained. The guest paid through the fake link and only realised it was a scam when they arrived. "It was a frustrating situation for both the guest and our team. Not only did they lose money, but it damaged their trust in the booking process—and in us, even though we had no role in the scam. It's become clear to me that travellers need to be especially cautious about messages they receive, even if they appear to be from official booking platforms." Balaram contacted and was told that the hotel's account may have been compromised. Their advice was to change the password. "They didn't offer any further assistance or compensation," the hospitality manager added. To help the distraught customer, Balaram offered a 50% discount on their stay. "It was a loss on both sides, but we did our best to make it right," he said. Sean Malloy is an American lawyer who has represented phishing scam victims in court and offered some advice for those fearful of being caught out. "I have dealt with numerous instances of phishing scams that resulted in financial or emotional losses. When platforms like are impersonated, consumers are often caught off-guard, especially since the communication can appear so legitimate," he told the Mirror. "To protect themselves, travellers should NEVER CLICK any payment links sent in email or text, and always verify bookings and requests by using the app or site itself. Turn on two-factor authentication when you can, and review your accounts periodically for evidence of hacking." A spokesperson for told the Mirror: "While we can confirm that systems have not been breached, we are aware that some of our accommodation partners and customers have been impacted by phishing attacks sent by professional criminals. Online fraud is unfortunately a battle many industries are facing, and at we are committed to tackling this issue head on. "We have a number of robust security measures in place and continually invest in advanced technologies, including AI and machine-learning, to detect and block the vast majority of threats before they can have an impact. Once a concern has been raised, our security teams will investigate immediately and work with partners to secure their accounts as quickly as possible." The spokesperson advised that customers concerned about payment messages should "carefully check the payment policy details on their booking confirmation to be sure that the message is legitimate. When in doubt, it's always best to contact our customer service team or click on 'report an issue' which is included in the chat function. It is important to note that we would never ask a customer to share payment information via email, chat messages, text messages or phone. If the customer has any concerns relating to credit card payments, they should contact their bank for further assistance. "Like many businesses operating in the e-commerce space, we and our partners can be attractive targets for cybercriminals. However, thanks to our robust measures, considering our global scope and the millions of bookings we facilitate weekly, actual incidents are rare. We continually invest in advanced technologies, including AI and machine-learning, to detect and block the vast majority of threats before they can have any impact. In the event of a confirmed partner account takeover scenario, we inform guests via email providing a warning about the potential of receiving phishing messages. "We take the process of verifying accommodation listings seriously. While partners can register in less than 15 minutes, they are then exposed to multiple controls and checks during sign-up, after submission and before their listings become bookable."
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Aussie singer and actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte makes rare comments about ex-husband Cameron McGlinchey after moving on with 'incredible' partner Pip Loth
Natalie Bassingthwaighte has offered a rare glimpse into her personal life, opening up about her relationship with partner Pip Loth and how she co-parents with ex-husband Cameron McGlinchey. The singer, actress and television personality, 49, first confirmed her relationship with Loth (who uses they/them pronouns) in November 2023, by resharing an Instagram post that made things official. Since then, the couple's bond has gone from strength to strength, Bassingthwaite telling the Daily Telegraph on Monday: "My partner is incredible." The Neighbours alum shares two children, daughter Harper, 14, and son Hendrix, 11, with McGlinchey, her former bandmate from the Rogue Traders. The pair were married for 12 years before quietly separating in late 2022. Now starring in the one-woman play Shirley Valentine, Bassingthwaighte credited both Loth and McGlinchey for supporting her as she tours the country with the production, which has already played in Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne and is set to hit Sydney in October. "Everyone's made sacrifices to help me be able to do the show," she said. "My kid's dad is amazing. He has been so great with me here, there and everywhere." For Bassingthwaighte, it's vital her children see her pursuing her passion. "It's really important for children to see what you do and to see you not just as their parent, but as someone who works hard for what they love," she said. The Voodoo Child singer first met Loth, a stage manager at Queensland Theatre Company, while working together on the 2021 musical Jagged Little Pill. In March, she told The Daily Telegraph that Loth is an "extraordinary human". "They've made me a better one and they get me more than I understand myself," she said. "It's been the wildest time in my life and it's beautiful." Bassingthwaite also reflected on how her feelings for Loth connect with her current role on stage. "There's a line in Shirley Valentine, and I think of Pip every night," she shared. "It says, 'When you meet someone and they like you, they sort of approve of you, you start to grow again, you start to move in the right ways and say the right things at the right time.' "That's exactly how they've made me feel- heard and loved." Bassingthwaighte has previously spoken about the strength of her relationship with McGlinchey, even after their separation. Following their split, Bassingthwaighte said it was McGlinchey who encouraged her to go public with her new relationship. "I rang Cam and I was hysterical," she told Stellar. "And he said, 'It's OK. This is your truth and you now have to sit in it and stand in it and own it'. So to have that support from him has been nothing short of beautiful, and I'm very grateful for it."
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Natalie Bassingthwaighte puts on a busty display in low-cut dress after revealing private details about her 'beautiful' relationship with Pip Loth
Natalie Bassingthwaighte left little to the imagination as she posed for a racy selfie on Tuesday. The Australian actress and singer, 49, posted a photo to her Instagram in which she bared her cleavage in a very low-cut dress. She struck a pose for the camera as she relaxed in a $360 Alice McCall gown. Natalie's floral dress featured a diamante embellishment and peephole detail along the front. She had her long blonde locks out and showed off her natural beauty with a very light makeup palette. 'Loving the all new @alicebyalicemccall,' she simply captioned the post. It comes after Natalie opened up about her relationship with her partner Pip Loth and the difficulties that come with co-parenting with her ex-husband Cameron McGlinchey. She described her romance as 'beautiful' and said that Pip 'understands' her more than any other person who has been in her life. 'They get me more than I understand myself,' she told the Stellar podcast in March. 'It's been the wildest time in my life and it's beautiful.' Shedding light on her experience coming out and the fear that often comes with it, Natalie said it was more of an internal battle than one she was facing with the people around her. 'What I've learnt over this time is that I think I had internalised homophobia myself, so I was terrified about what people would say and think and feel,' she told host Sarrah Le Marquand. 'That's just ingrained in growing up in a certain time when you weren't allowed to be.' 'It doesn't mean I don't get scared sometimes but that debilitating fear has gone. And it's beautiful. 'I feel heard, I feel safe, I feel connected.' Natalie split with her former Rogue Traders bandmate Cameron in 2023 after 12 years of marriage, before revealing a new relationship with Pip in April the following year. The former Neighbours star said there has been challenges that come post-divorce, particularly when it comes to co-parenting with Cameron and time lost with her kids. Natalie shares two children Harper, 14, and Hendrix, 11, with her former husband and admitted on the podcast that Christmas without her kids was 'harder' than she thought it would be. 'It was the hardest Christmas I've ever experienced,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Melbourne brewer, bar face uncertain future after collapse of wannabe hospo king
The Rogue Traders business, which owns more than $10 million in real estate, remains ongoing and has not been placed in administration. Pickett did not respond to calls, texts or emails on Tuesday. During 2020 and 2021, while most Melbourne restaurateurs faced uncertainty due to coronavirus restrictions, Pickett went on a buying spree. In mid-2020 he scooped up the shuttered Longrain and its upstairs bar Longsong, as well as the site off Little Collins Street that he opened later that year as Chancery Lane, a plush bistro fitted out with green marble, chandeliers and stone archways. In 2021, he opened several venues at The Continental Sorrento, including fine diner Audrey's, and in February 2022, unveiled Smith St Bistrot featuring red leather booths, marble-topped tables and a mezzanine reached via wrought-iron spiral stairs. Pickett has been trying to clear the $11 million Commonwealth Bank debt since late 2023 by selling a property – the $10 million Chancery Lane Bistro – with no luck so far. According to ASIC, the First Guardian loan was supposed to be paid in June 2023, but that repayment was waived to allow Pickett to restructure the business to repay Commonwealth Bank. There is no reference in ASIC's documents to plans to repay the loan from the First Guardian investors. It appears Pickett has structured his restaurant business – which includes Estelle in Northcote, Matilda 159 Domain in South Yarra and Pickett's Deli at Melbourne Airport – so that the vast majority are insulated from the investments made by Anderson's funds in Rogue Traders. Anderson was also involved in the expansion of fast-growing craft beer brewer and taproom operator Fox Friday. Fox Friday, which owns five venues, including Carwyn Cellars, voluntarily appointed administrators last week. 'Control of Fox Friday Group now rests with the administrators who intend to continue to trade on a business-as-usual basis whilst they pursue going-concern sale options or a recapitalisation through the voluntary administration process,' said administrators Keith Crawford and Robert Smith from McGrathNicol, who have already begun the process of advertising the business for sale. Carwyn's collapse has sent shockwaves through the craft brewing industry where Carwyn's founders, Ben and Sarah Carwyn, are well known. The pair sold their business, which they founded in 2007, to Fox Friday but the family remained involved in the business. In an Instagram post last week, Fox Friday co-owners Benn and Sarah Hooper said they intended for the businesses to continue running, albeit on reduced hours and staff. They also apologised to suppliers for the situation they said was out of their hands. 'Unfortunately, we've faced significant financial challenges that have brought us to this point. Our financial lender [the Anderson-overseen fund] could not meet their obligations for our capital projects,' the Hoopers said in the social media post. 'While funding was confirmed, we experienced continual delays extending to March 2025, and now they have been placed into liquidation.' The Hoopers added they had tried to find new lenders or equity partners. According to court documents filed by ASIC, Anderson's investment business had been seeking a new lender for Fox Friday and was to have the money repaid. Part of that process would include Fox Friday repaying between $8 million and $10 million of the $28 million loan and then finding a new lender.
The Age
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Age
Melbourne brewer, bar face uncertain future after collapse of wannabe hospo king
The Rogue Traders business, which owns more than $10 million in real estate, remains ongoing and has not been placed in administration. Pickett did not respond to calls, texts or emails on Tuesday. During 2020 and 2021, while most Melbourne restaurateurs faced uncertainty due to coronavirus restrictions, Pickett went on a buying spree. In mid-2020 he scooped up the shuttered Longrain and its upstairs bar Longsong, as well as the site off Little Collins Street that he opened later that year as Chancery Lane, a plush bistro fitted out with green marble, chandeliers and stone archways. In 2021, he opened several venues at The Continental Sorrento, including fine diner Audrey's, and in February 2022, unveiled Smith St Bistrot featuring red leather booths, marble-topped tables and a mezzanine reached via wrought-iron spiral stairs. Pickett has been trying to clear the $11 million Commonwealth Bank debt since late 2023 by selling a property – the $10 million Chancery Lane Bistro – with no luck so far. According to ASIC, the First Guardian loan was supposed to be paid in June 2023, but that repayment was waived to allow Pickett to restructure the business to repay Commonwealth Bank. There is no reference in ASIC's documents to plans to repay the loan from the First Guardian investors. It appears Pickett has structured his restaurant business – which includes Estelle in Northcote, Matilda 159 Domain in South Yarra and Pickett's Deli at Melbourne Airport – so that the vast majority are insulated from the investments made by Anderson's funds in Rogue Traders. Anderson was also involved in the expansion of fast-growing craft beer brewer and taproom operator Fox Friday. Fox Friday, which owns five venues, including Carwyn Cellars, voluntarily appointed administrators last week. 'Control of Fox Friday Group now rests with the administrators who intend to continue to trade on a business-as-usual basis whilst they pursue going-concern sale options or a recapitalisation through the voluntary administration process,' said administrators Keith Crawford and Robert Smith from McGrathNicol, who have already begun the process of advertising the business for sale. Carwyn's collapse has sent shockwaves through the craft brewing industry where Carwyn's founders, Ben and Sarah Carwyn, are well known. The pair sold their business, which they founded in 2007, to Fox Friday but the family remained involved in the business. In an Instagram post last week, Fox Friday co-owners Benn and Sarah Hooper said they intended for the businesses to continue running, albeit on reduced hours and staff. They also apologised to suppliers for the situation they said was out of their hands. 'Unfortunately, we've faced significant financial challenges that have brought us to this point. Our financial lender [the Anderson-overseen fund] could not meet their obligations for our capital projects,' the Hoopers said in the social media post. 'While funding was confirmed, we experienced continual delays extending to March 2025, and now they have been placed into liquidation.' The Hoopers added they had tried to find new lenders or equity partners. According to court documents filed by ASIC, Anderson's investment business had been seeking a new lender for Fox Friday and was to have the money repaid. Part of that process would include Fox Friday repaying between $8 million and $10 million of the $28 million loan and then finding a new lender.
