Latest news with #travelscam
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Bombshell as Webjet is hit by a HUGE fine for misleading customers in landmark court ruling
Webjet has been ordered by the Federal Court to pay $9million in penalties for making false or misleading statements about the price of flights and booking confirmations. The case run by the ACCC, saw the online travel agency admit between 2018 and 2023 it made false or misleading statements when it advertised airfares that excluded compulsory fees. The statements were made on its website, and in promotional emails and social media posts. Webjet also admitted that between 2019 and 2024 it provided false or misleading booking confirmations to 118 consumers for flight bookings which had not actually been confirmed. Webjet later asked for additional payments, of up to $2,120 from consumers to complete the booking. Webjet has refunded these consumers. The ACCC started its investigation after a consumer complained about an airfare advertised as 'from $18', which cost almost three times that price after Webjet added its compulsory fees. 'We took this case because we considered that Webjet used misleading pricing by excluding or not adequately disclosing compulsory fees in its ads,' ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. 'Seeking to lure in customers with prices that don't tell the whole story is a serious breach of the Australian Consumer Law.' The Webjet fees comprised the 'Webjet servicing fee' and 'booking price guarantee' fee which ranged from $34.90 to $54.90 per booking, depending on whether the flights were domestic, to New Zealand and the Pacific, or other international destinations. While Webjet's website, app and most emails contained information about the additional fees, some users had to scroll to the fine print near the bottom of the screen to see them. In its social media posts, Webjet didn't disclose the additional fees at all. 'Retailers must ensure their advertised prices are accurate. They should clearly disclose additional fees and charges,' Ms Cass-Gottlieb said. The Webjet fees represented 36 per cent of Webjet's total revenue in the period from 1 November 2018 to 13 November 2023. Webjet co-operated with the ACCC, admitted liability and agreed to make joint submissions to the Court about orders, including the penalty. The Court also made declarations and other orders proposed, including that Webjet review its compliance program and pay a contribution to the ACCC's costs.
Phone Arena
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Phone Arena
AI travel videos are getting so real, people are falling for fake attractions
A Malaysian couple recently found themselves at the center of an AI hoax that turned a simple weekend trip into a costly and frustrating experience. After watching what appeared to be a professionally produced travel video, the elderly couple drove over 230 miles from Kuala Lumpur to a small town in Perak, only to discover that the entire attraction was fabricated by artificial intelligence. The video that fooled them featured a realistic news segment from a fictional broadcaster called "TV Rakyat." In the clip, a lifelike AI-generated reporter showcased the "Kuak Skyride," a scenic cable car ride said to exist in the town of Kuak Hulu. The footage showed lush mountain views, interviews with so-called tourists, and even a luxurious dining experience overlooking the landscape. The segment ended with a visit to a deer petting zoo. The entire video appeared authentic, complete with voiceovers and convincing visuals likely created using Google's Veo 3 model. According to local media including the Metro and the South China Morning Post , the couple checked into a hotel in Perak's Pengkalan Hulu area on June 30 and asked about the cable car ride. A hotel employee recounted the moment she realized the attraction didn't exist: Receive the latest Google news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy — @dyaaaaaaa._, a hotel employee, via Threads The woman was reportedly upset and said she planned to sue the journalist featured in the video. But the hotel employee had to break the news: the reporter was also AI-generated. 'Why would anyone want to lie?' the woman replied. 'There was even a reporter (in the video).' This wasn't an isolated incident. Another social media user reported their parents spent RM 9,000 (around $2,120 USD) to rent a van for the same trip, believing the video to be real. Reports suggest the video went viral across Malaysian social platforms before eventually being taken down due to public backlash. The situation raises important questions about the growing realism of AI-generated video content. If ordinary travelers can be misled by videos that seem indistinguishable from real-life footage, what does that mean for digital media going forward? Cases like this show that while generative video tools can be powerful for creativity, they also introduce risks around misinformation, especially when viewers are unaware of how convincing synthetic content can be. Personally, I think that as these tools become more accessible, we may need better labeling, regulations, or education to help viewers distinguish real from fake. The woman was reportedly upset and said she planned to sue the journalist featured in the video. But the hotel employee had to break the news: the reporter was also AI-generated. 'Why would anyone want to lie?' the woman replied. 'There was even a reporter (in the video).'This wasn't an isolated incident. Another social media user reported their parents spent RM 9,000 (around $2,120 USD) to rent a van for the same trip, believing the video to be real. Reports suggest the video went viral across Malaysian social platforms before eventually being taken down due to public situation raises important questions about the growing realism of AI-generated video content. If ordinary travelers can be misled by videos that seem indistinguishable from real-life footage, what does that mean for digital media going forward?Cases like this show that while generative video tools can be powerful for creativity, they also introduce risks around misinformation, especially when viewers are unaware of how convincing synthetic content can be. Personally, I think that as these tools become more accessible, we may need better labeling, regulations, or education to help viewers distinguish real from fake.
