‘Abhorrent’: ‘Ghost store’ attempts to cash in on Bondi attack

A “ghost store” purporting to be located in Bondi claims its co-founder was shot during the antisemitic attack and is using the tragedy to attempt to sell clothes, bathers and bags.

“Isla & James is closing because of the Bondi Beach tragedy,” the website claims, underneath an image it says is of the shop’s founders, which appears to be AI-generated.

The Isla & James website was created nine days after the Bondi Beach shooting.Credit: IslaandJames.com

“During the Bondi Beach shooting, James was shot. In seconds, the life we were building collapsed … And so, Isla & James is coming to an end.”

The site then lists its discounts, claiming the store will close permanently once stock is sold.

None of the 15 people killed in the terror attack was named James. Some survivors who were shot or injured have not been publicly identified.

“Ghost stores” pretend they are in Australia and are imminently closing down, but are instead based overseas and are drop-shipping low-quality products.

Consumers are being warned of “Ghost Stores” and illegitimate fundraisers attempting to cash in on public sympathy after the Bondi attack.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The website was created on December 23, nine days after the terror attack, according to multiple domain age checkers. The site does not list a specific street address and notes products ship from a central warehouse in Asia. No phone number is listed, and the site does not have a “.au” web address.

It claims its business registration number and Value Added Tax (VAT) number can be provided “on request”. Australia’s VAT equivalent is the Australian Business Number (ABN). There are no businesses registered by the name Isla & James on the ABN website.

Google Lens imagery of the products links to other e-commerce sites with near-identical layouts as well as online marketplace Temu.

The store owners have been contacted for comment via the store’s support email.

‘The events at Bondi were senseless and despicable. Exploiting the grief and suffering of our community to turn a profit is abhorrent.’

A spokesperson for NSW Fair Trading confirmed it was attempting to have the site taken down after being contacted by this masthead.

“We take very seriously allegations that traders are seeking to exploit vulnerable members of the community by engaging in conduct that takes advantage of consumers’ sympathies towards those connected with the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi,” the spokesperson said.

“Misleading or deceptive conduct in trade or commerce about an alleged association with a local community or incident, such as the Bondi Beach attack, may amount to civil and criminal contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law.”

Acting Fair Trading Minister Jihad Dib has condemned attempts to manipulate and deceive consumers after the tragedy.Credit: Steven Siewert

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Acting Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Jihad Dib said the government condemned any attempts to manipulate and deceive consumers after this tragedy, and that Fair Trading intended to issue a public warning about the site.

“The allegations of fake websites claiming to represent victims of the Bondi terror attack are deeply disturbing,” he said.

“The events at Bondi were senseless and despicable. Exploiting the grief and suffering of our community to turn a profit is abhorrent – especially at a time when so many small businesses in the area have been doing it tough.”

The consumer body warned the public to be on the lookout for “ghost stores”, illegitimate fundraisers and other deceptive conduct in the sale of goods or services linked to the Bondi attack. Cases can be reported to Scamwatch.

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