Category: Advertising

  • Amanda Stichbury, Accommodation Find, Internet Find and Special Days false billing scam continues

    Many business owners, particularly those in the travel and tourism industry, will be familiar with the long running false billing scam perpetrated by Amanda Stichbury – director of the companies Special Days Pty Ltd, Accommodation Find Pty Ltd and Internet Find Pty Ltd. How the scam originally functioned was that business owners would receive what…

  • Free listings for tourism businesses and events in Victoria

    Tourism businesses and event organisers may spend a significant amount of money and time on promotional activities, but did you know there are many high exposure opportunities on the internet where they can be promoted for free? Events There is always plenty going on in Victoria.  From community festivals to markets, concert, sports tournaments, shows…

  • Queensland fraudster Amanda Stichbury fined yet again

    Many people operating businesses in the travel and tourism industries will be familiar with the long-running false billing scams perpetrated by Amanda Jane Stichbury and her companies Accommodation Find Pty Ltd, Internet Find Pty Ltd, and Special Days Pty Ltd. Many businesses were sent either invoices or renewal letters concerning advertising on her large network…

  • Careful with Victoria Tourism & www.victoriatourism.com.au listing renewals

    A number of accommodation managers in Victoria have been receiving unsolicited emails requesting that they renew their listing on the Victoria Tourism website at www.victoriatourism.com.au. Before going any further, it is very important to note that Victoria Tourism is in no way related to the official government tourism organisation of Tourism Victoria.  In fact, the…

  • Some accommodation owners in denial about the internet

    We received an interesting phone call a few weeks ago from a motel in Lakes Entrance, in Victoria’s beautiful Gippsland Lakes area. This motel had been advertising  on our website for the last 5 years.  In fact, when their annual renewal was due last year, they paid their subscription and sent us an email thanking…

  • Fined and convicted – Amanda Stichbury & Special Days Pty Ltd false billing scam

    Over the years, a significant number of businesses in Australia, including accommodation and tourism operators, have received unsolicited bills in the mail for advertising they never ordered.   This is known as “false billing” and its aim is to trick businesses into paying money.  It is similar to someone unexpectedly turning up at your door with…

  • Increasing business exposure through Facebook

    With the high proliferation of social media usage these days, any business that wishes to increase their market share needs a visible social media presence. Facebook is currently the world’s largest social network, having been first launched in 2004. For most businesses, Facebook should be at the top of the list when looking to increase…

  • Holiday Great Ocean Road & www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com false billing scam

    Accommodation businesses operating within the Great Ocean Road region in Victoria have been on the receiving end of a false billing scam. It has been operating since 2012, resulting in bills being sent out for unauthorised advertising on a tourism website. Invoices are being sent out by Holiday Great Ocean Road for advertising on the…

  • VIC Tourism & www.victourism.com.au false billing scam

    A new false billing scam is actively targeting those who manage accommodation properties in Victoria. Bills are being posted out for unauthorised advertising on a website which bears a name very similar to Tourism Victoria – Victoria’s official tourism body. Unauthorised bills are being sent out by VIC Tourism for advertising on the www.victourism.com.au website. …

  • Accommodation VIC & www.accommodationvic.com.au false billing scam

    A false billing scam which began in 2010 is still targeting accommodation providers in Victoria. It involves sending out bills for unauthorised advertising on a travel website. The unauthorised bills are sent out by Accommodation VIC for advertising on the www.accommodationvic.com.au website.  Refer below to a sample of the invoices they post out in the…