Real estate agent framed as fake NYE party organiser

A real estate agent – who had his identity stolen – started the new year as enemy number one after being framed as the organiser of a fake yacht party which ripped off 150 people.

A real estate agent says he woke up as “Adelaide’s most wanted scammer” after a New Year’s Eve boat party that seemed “too good to be true” proved to be exactly that for dozens of devastated partygoers.

23-year-old Birdwood man Callum Kennedy – who he had his identity stolen – started the new year as enemy number one after being framed as the organiser of a fake lavish New Year’s Eve celebration.

“On New Year’s Day I woke up to a message from a girl saying ‘I hope you had a nice New Year’s because you ruined mine. I want my money back,’” Mr Kennedy said.

“I was confused and ended up having a video chat with the girl where I found out someone had stolen my identity to pull this off.”

23-year-old Birdwood man Callum Kennedy. Picture: Supplied

The elaborate scam – that promised a NYE boat party – even used Mr Kennedy’s registered business that had sat dormant for more than nine months.

“I actually had this idea to set up an app where people could promote their boats and customers could hire them out,” he said.

“I never really got around to doing it, but this person has obviously found the registered title and used it as a front.”

Mr Kennedy said he was in the process of making a report to the police.

“I hope everyone gets their money back, but there’s actually a fair bit at stake for me too,” he said.

“I’m a real estate agent and have a very public profile, so if the truth isn’t told it can be damaging to my reputation.”

About 150 revellers arrived at the pier, at Glenelg, just before 8.30pm on Saturday evening, after booking a New Year’s Eve celebration like no other on popular ticketing website Eventbrite.

A ticket on the boat cost $130, which would cover drinks, food and offer a prime position on the water to watch the Fireworks at the Bay.

Things turned for the worst when the “Kennedy Boat Hire” yacht they had been promised never arrived.

Cameron Chappell was among those caught up in the scam and posted about the experience on Tik Tok.

About 150 people were caught up in a scam on New Year's Eve at Glenelg.

He said while he was waiting for the boat, he checked his phone to find that any evidence of the event had been deleted.

“Everything was gone. Facebook page had been deleted, the event had been deleted and even the profile of the guy who we had been speaking to for the event is gone,” he said.

“There was supposed to be unlimited drinks, food and DJ’s.”

Originally published as Real estate agent framed as fake NYE party organiser