Tag Archives: oceania

Queensland couple lose dream home and $300K deposit in scam

2024-12-28 FreeNews

A Queensland family have lost their entire house deposit and their new home after unknowingly falling victim to a sophisticated mortgage scam.

A fraudulent email, posing as their conveyancer, robbed Sarah and Laine Robinson of a quarter of a million dollars.

The Benowa couple thought they were being safe with their money when they transferred their $300,000 deposit for their dream home to their conveyancer in person at the bank.

Sarah and Laine Robinson

Unknowingly, the majority of those funds, slid directly into a scam account and cost them their Mount Nathan property.

"We purchased it, we thought we had, and the day before settlement, it was gone," Sarah told 9News

"$250,000 was transferred, that was lost."

In a sea of legitimate emails, a well-disguised phishing fraud slipped through the cracks, the only distinguishable flaw was the "dot AU" missing from the end of the email address.

"If they [the bank] had said, 'hey, listen, let's contact where the money's going to and let's double check these details' none of this would have happened," Laine claimed.

Sarah and Laine Robinson thought they were being safe with their money when they transferred their deposit to their conveyancer in person at the bank.

The Gold Coast couple are not the only ones to fall victim to such a scam.

Just weeks ago, Brisbane pair Christine and David Rose were defrauded $40,000 in an almost identical scam.

"It had the same banners down the bottom, the same email signature, everything," Christine told 9News.

The Robinsons' bank was able to recover $80,000 for the couple said they refused to reimburse the total amount they lost.

Brisbane couple David and Christine Rose were defrauded $40,000 in an almost indentical scam.

They are now hoping their story will help spread the word and save others a similar heartbreak.

"We've worked so hard for the last 20 years to get to this point and it's all for nothing," Sarah said.

"Call and confirm everything that they send you, call and confirm, 'Is that from you? Is this real?'"

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Disability pensioner’s home destroyed in fire police believe was deliberately lit

2024-12-28 FreeNews

A Brisbane disability pensioner has lost his home of 30 years after a suspicious fire gutted the property in the early hours of this morning.

Wayne Price managed to escape from the burning property in the suburb of Inala in the city's south-west after he woke up to smoke and flames at 2am.

Four firefighting crews worked to save the home after the suspected arson attack but the house suffered significant structural damage.

A Brisbane homeowner has lost his home of 30 years after a suspicious fire gutted the property in the early hours of this morning. Wayne Price managed to escape from the burning property in the suburb of Inala in the city's south-west after he woke up to smoke and flames at 2am.

"I'm totally devastated, I don't know what I'm going to do to be honest," Price, who is uninsured, told 9News.

"I've had some bad experiences in the past, but this would have to be the worst by far, I can't believe this has happened to me."

"How do you explain something like this, no one deserves to be treated like this."

A Brisbane disability pensioner has lost his home of 30 years after a suspicious fire gutted the property in the early hours of this morning. Wayne Price managed to escape from the burning property in the suburb of Inala in the city's south-west after he woke up to smoke and flames at 2am.

Police were at the scene of the Inala home and another nearby property today, which detectives believe was also set alight 25 minutes earlier but only superficially damaged.

Both fires are believed to be linked.

Meanwhile, CCTV has captured a third fire which started in a nearby park.

Price said the fire is the latest in a string of incidents which has devastated him.

"I've had my tyres slashed, I've had my windows smashed," he said.

"I've had to lock things away and they still get in and steal things."

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Extent of Boxing Day fires revealed as blaze continues to burn

2024-12-28 FreeNews

Three homes have been lost, along with 11 sheds and outbuildings across Victoria's south-west, as an out-of-control bushfire continues to burn in the Grampians National Park.

Fire crews are still battling the blaze, which threatened multiple communities on Boxing Day under the worst fire conditions firefighters had seen since the 2019-20 Black Summer fires.

The fire has burnt 74,000 hectares, roughly the size of Singapore, and is expected to burn for weeks to come.

GRAMPIANS FIRE: Fires currently impacting the Grampians area in Western Victoria. 27.1.24

Cooler conditions have come as a reprieve for locals in nearby towns including Pomonal, Moyston and Willaura.

Today's high of 25 degrees is a stark contrast to the extreme conditions experienced on Boxing Day when much of the state was placed under a total fire ban with catastrophic and high fire danger ratings.

The intense heat paired with severe, damaging winds, with peak gusts reaching 100km/h, created dangerous conditions.

Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said the damage could have been a lot worse if it weren't for the efforts of firefighting crews.

"Without their hard work, we would have had much bigger fires causing much bigger damage," Hardman said.

"On behalf of all Victorians, I would like to thank them because what they did on Boxing Day in extreme fire danger saved a lot more anguish and pain that Victorians now don't have to suffer."

Thousands of firefighters worked across the state on Boxing Day to ensure communities were kept safe.

According to Victoria Police, authorities responded to six illegal campfire callouts on Boxing Day, many of which were discovered in regional Victoria.

Fire danger subsides

Multiple Victorian towns have been urged to monitor conditions as several watch and act warnings remain in place.

The latest warnings can be found here.

Firefighters are expected to take advantage of milder weather today, with crews working to reinforce containment lines and extinguish any remaining hot spots.

While the weather has improved, authorities warn conditions are still dangerous for people near the bushfire.

Three residential homes were lost in Moyston along with 11 sheds and outbuildings at Moyston and Pomonal, with impact assessments continuing.

Emergency services are expected to undergo further impact assessments when it is safe for personnel to enter the fire-impacted area.

The bushfire is travelling from Grampians National Park in an easterly direction and has impacted a communications tower at Mt William, meaning internet and mobile services could be affected.

About 163 people have attended assistance relief centres, with two remaining open in Ararat and Stawell.

Government disaster assistance is available for communities affected by the fires.

The disaster relief will apply to residents living in four local government areas: Ararat, the southern Grampians, the northern Grampians and the Macedon Ranges Shire.

"We know this is a challenging time for all communities, and all communities will be supported through this period," Deputy Premier Ben Carroll Carroll said.

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Police ‘investigating an assault’ after nurse stabbed while responding to Rotorua house call, Herald understands

2024-12-28 FreeNews

‘The victim was taken to Rotorua Hospital for treatment for their injuries.’

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Man in critical condition after shark attack in Queensland

2024-12-28 FreeNews

A man is in a critical condition after a reported shark attack in Queensland.

Emergency services were called to Humpy Island in The Keppels about 4.37pm today after members of the public reported that a man in his 40s was bitten.

He suffered significant injuries to his neck, which are considered to be life-threatening, a Queensland Ambulance spokesperson told 9News.com.au.

A helicopter was sent to the scene with a medical team on board.

Humpy Island is one of the most popular islands in the Keppels known for camping, diving and snorkelling.

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Police seek to identify two men after shooting murder of Queensland woman

2024-12-28 FreeNews

Detectives have released images of two men in connection with the alleged shooting death of a 23-year-old woman on a street north of Brisbane last week.

Chloe Mason was found unresponsive by emergency services on Railway Parade in Caboolture just after midnight on December 22.

Police believe she was assaulted by two males and suffered a gunshot wound during an altercation.

Detectives believe it was not a random attack and the parties involved were known to each other.

Investigators are appealing for the two men to come forward.

Speaking exclusively with 9News, the woman's family described her as the "most amazing person".

"She's someone that you would have wanted to have by your side in life," her sister Dani said.

"She didn't deserve this, no one does."

Police are labelling the killing a targeted attack, as the heartbroken family of Chloe Jade Mason paid tribute to a much loved sister and auntie.

Police are yet to establish the motive behind the attack or why she was with the two men on the street.

A taskforce of local and specialist homicide detectives has been established to try and bring the young woman's family answers.

Police continue to appeal for further information, with anyone who travelled along Railway Parade between 11.40pm on December 21 to 12.15am on December 22 urged to contact police.

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Road toll: Person dies following serious Northland crash, seven people killed on NZ roads in five days

2024-12-28 FreeNews

Road toll continues to rise in dark five days on our roads.

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Three teens charged after massive search on quiet Sydney street

2024-12-28 FreeNews

Three teenagers have been charged after a highway pursuit and search operation on a quiet street in Sydney's south-west.

Police attempted to pull over a white Genesis SUV at about 10.40am today, which was allegedly driving dangerously on the Hume Highway at Menangle, south-west of Sydney.

After the car allegedly failed to stop, police initiated a chase but officers were forced to abandon the pursuit due to safety concerns.

There was a large police presence in the Currans Hill street.

A police helicopter found the SUV dumped nearby on Downes Crescent in Currans Hill about 10 minutes later.

Three people, aged 18, 16 and 15, were found and arrested on Spring Hill Circuit in the Sydney suburb.

Prior to the arrest, resident Justin Miller was in the garden when the trio approached him and asked for directions to the nearest train station.

Officers found a large knife in bushland close to where the three were arrested.

Miller assumed the teenagers had been at a local house party the night before and sent them to the closest bus stop.

"Five minutes later the chopper came flying over and the cop cars were flying down the street, I put two and two together at that stage," he said.

Police said initial checks revealed the SUV was reported stolen at an address in the Australian Capital Territory earlier in the day.

Multiple police resources were used in the search, including PolAir, the dog squad and the tactical response squad.

Local resident Lee Jeans described the scene as "a bit chaotic" for the usually quiet area.

"There were cops everywhere, they had them on the ground, everyone was crowding around," she said.

"A bit of excitement for the neighbourhood."

PolAir, the dog squad and the tactical response squad were among multiple police resources.

Officers found a large knife in bushland close to where the three were arrested.

Police also allegedly seized a small amount of what's believed to be an illicit substance.

The 18-year-old was charged with not stopping during a police pursuit, driving recklessly, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, receive etc property stolen outside NSW more than $15000 and possess means of disguising face with intent to commit indictable offence.

The two other teens were both charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

The 18-year-old was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court tomorrow.

The two boys were also refused bail to appear at a Children's Court tomorrow.