Craig and Deborah McGill pose for the media as they arrive at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. The amusement park opened today after it was closed for the past six weeks while authorities investigated the death of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride on October 25. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

Dreamworld is not giving away tickets to celebrate its anniversary

FactCheck November 20, 2019

The Statement

AAP FactCheck examined multiple links shared on Facebook on November 15, 2019 claiming Dreamworld is giving away tickets to celebrate its anniversary.

The link by CABGRAB.WIN features an image of what appears to be two Dreamworld tickets above the headline which reads: “Dreamworld has announced that everyone who shares this link will be sent 4 tickets for it’s anniversary. TODAY ONLY.”

The link and identical versions, have been shared at least 640 times on Facebook by users in Australia.

*A link shared on Facebook on November 15, 2019 features a link claiming Dreamworld is giving away tickets to celebrate its anniversary.*

The Analysis

Dreamworld theme park on Queensland’s Gold Coast has previously been subject to fake ticket giveaways. On January 25, 2014 Dreamworld Australia warned about a fake Dreamworld Facebook page which was set up to offer ticket giveaways.

“We ask that you please treat any Dreamworld ticket giveaway offers that are not represented here on our official Facebook page, our official website, twitter and Instagram accounts with caution while we work with Facebook to have this page shut down,” Dreamworld wrote in its post.

In February 2018, ABC Brisbane’s Facebook page reported another a fake Dreamworld Facebook post purporting to be written by Peter Shnabel – who was claiming to be Dreamworld’s manager.

*Dreamworld confirmed to* ***AAP FactCheck*** *the Facebook link was not a legitimate offer.*

The post claimed Dreamworld was giving away two holidays at the Gold Coast for four people, each with seven passes to the theme park. People had to share the Facebook post and like the fake Dreamworld page in order to enter

The November 15, 2019 link is attached to an external survey page which asks several questions before informing users: “Congratulations! You have been qualified to get your Free Tickets.” It then states in order to receive the tickets, the page must be shared and “thank you” typed into the comments field.

A Dreamworld spokesperson confirmed to AAP FactCheck the Facebook link was a fake offer. “It is not a legitimate offer and definitely has nothing to do with us,” a Dreamworld spokerson told AAP FactCheck.

The Verdict

Based on the evidence, AAP FactCheck found the Facebook post to be false. Dreamworld confirmed to AAP FactCheck the Facebook promotion “definitely has nothing to do with us”.

False – The primary claims of the content are factually inaccurate.

First published November 20, 2019, 16:54 AEDT

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