Two New Zealand airports have flagged a supposed "$3 luggage sale" as a total scam, cautioning travellers about misleading ads circulating on Facebook.
Ads appearing under the Christchurch and Queenstown airport names claim that due to overstuffed airport lockers, lost luggage is up for grabs at a mere $3.
Images of stacks of luggage with a yellow sale sign displaying an Air New Zealand logo are doing the rounds via multiple fake accounts.
The incentive to purchase comes from a lucky dip-like mystery as to what you may receive inside the abandoned luggage.
“That’s what they’re making it look like, but it ISN’T,” said our own Lana Searle addressing the scam.
If you want to hear the full chat about the luggage scam, check out our Breakfast Club podcast here:
Both Christchurch and Queenstown have issued statements on the con saying they would never sell bags that belong to somebody else regardless of how long they’ve been around.
“Christchurch Airport will never sell lost luggage, and we would never request payment from you on social media,” the official page wrote in a statement.
“Scammers are really good at creating fake social media accounts, websites and emails that are often hard to tell from the real thing,” Queenstown Airport echoed. “Please report these pages when you see them.”
Having seen these fake adverts, admittedly they do look legit.
“It looks too good to be true and that’s because it is,” Lana added.
Anyone who attempted to purchase a bag is urged to seek advice from MBIE’s Scamwatch.
