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7NEWS
12 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Victorian influencer Jordan van den Lamb, known as ‘Purple Pingers' sparks Aussie housing war
When a Victorian woman returned to her investment property in Melbourne's outer suburbs, she didn't expect to find squatters inside — or to learn that her home's address had been shared online by a Federal Senate candidate. The woman, who had been managing her late father's estate, reportedly arrived to find the locks changed, security cameras installed, and new heating fitted to the exterior. Police were called to force entry, where she discovered most of her father's belongings were missing, including sentimental items like antique furniture and family heirlooms. The damage left her about $70,000 out of pocket after her insurance claim was denied. The property had been vacant and was publicly shared by Jordan van den Lamb, known online as 'Purple Pingers', as part of his campaign encouraging people to identify and use unused homes for shelter. Mr van den Lamb has become a lightning rod in the national housing debate. But as his TikTok-fuelled activism escalates, so too do the consequences for homeowners, real estate agents, and authorities caught in the fallout. While some of his followers see occupying vacant properties as a form of protest, the legal reality is more complicated. A squatter is someone who enters and uses an abandoned or unoccupied property, often through unlocked access. While entering through an open door is not technically illegal, remaining after being asked to leave by the rightful owner constitutes trespassing, which is a criminal offence in all Australian states. The influencer rose to prominence online through his viral TikTok account and website Sh.t Rentals, where he publicly exposed unoccupied, poor-quality or overpriced rental properties. But his campaign has since evolved into something more confrontational. Mr van den Lamb said he shared the address of the Victorian property online in a bid to raise awareness and attract more submissions of vacant homes. 'Yes, that was shared by me,' he said. 'That property had been empty, off the top of my head, for like 17 years. We don't know whether the squatters moved in before or after I posted the address.' He said the situation was brought to his attention by a news organisation and confirmed, 'I had no interaction with her (the homeowner).' When asked about the impact on the Victorian woman, Mr van den Lamb told The Nightly he felt 'bad' but claimed there were bigger issues at play. 'I feel bad that her belongings were taken, especially if they had sentimental value,' he said. 'But we hear from people like this every day. We never hear from someone sleeping rough — and frankly, their voices matter more, because they're the ones who are dying.' How it works Mr van den Lamb said he personally ran the operation using a Google Form to collect submissions of empty homes and verify them through online tools. 'I call for submissions... ask people to submit an empty property, the address, how long they think it's been vacant... then I check Google Maps, street view, last sold, last rented, planning applications.' He added: 'Once someone reaches out via email, I might ask if they're alone — I prefer not to send solo people just for safety. I go through the list, send through what I know, and tell them to verify it themselves.' 'I only post very few online — just to get more submissions,' he said. 'Most properties are shared privately via email with those in need.' In one of his TikTok videos, Mr van den Lamb instructs viewers on how to detect long-term vacancies by searching real estate websites and analysing listing duration. But one real estate agent says Mr van den Lamb's actions have changed how some sellers think about signage and advertising. Victorian real estate agent manager Mark Vorstenbosch from BigginScott said, 'There's this idea that putting up a 'for sale' board might alert people that a home is empty, but I think not putting one up puts you in more danger, because you don't know when someone might turn up.' Loading TikTok Post Kelly Ryan, former chief executive officer of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV), described Mr van den Lamb's tactics as concerning. 'Encouraging people to squat in properties that aren't theirs isn't good social behaviour — it's not a good service to anybody,' she told The Nightly. Ms Ryan warned that the broader risk is a chilling effect on landlords and property providers. 'This kind of behaviour is counterproductive to tackling the housing crisis,' she said. 'If you discourage private property owners from staying in the market, you risk starving supply not just now, but five years down the track.' Ms Ryan also addressed common misconceptions about who owned investment properties. 'There's this idea that all property owners are wealthy. But the second biggest group of landlords in Australia are school teachers, often owning just one investment property. These are the people being affected.' According to Homes Victoria's Rental Report for December 2024, the number of new rental lettings, which is a key indicator of housing availability, declined statewide by 1.8 per cent in the December quarter compared to the same period the year before. Metropolitan Melbourne saw a 1.3 per cent drop, while regional Victoria experienced a sharper 4.1 per cent fall. The total number of active rental bonds held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority also declined by 3.6 per cent, a significant shift, given that bond volumes had averaged 1.0 per cent annual growth over the past five years. 'These early indicators suggest a contraction in the overall rental stock,' REIV noted at the time, 'reflecting a waning of investor confidence in the market.' Victoria Police declined to comment on specific incidents related to Mr van den Lamb's activism but said homelessness was 'not an offence'. 'Should an offence be detected, police will deal with that as per normal practice,' the spokesperson said. 'The priority for Victoria Police is to link people who are homeless or sleeping rough to the services available to them.' Police advised concerned property owners to report issues to their local council and referred inquiries about broader trends to the Crime Statistics Agency. Mark Donchi, manager of a Victorian homelessness program for St Mary's House of Welcome, said he doesn't encourage squatting but understands why it happens. He said his service has noticed a clear demographic shift, 'We're now seeing more families and single women coming to seek our services. The volume has definitely increased over the last five years.' Mr Donchi said that the increase is largely driven by a massive shortfall in affordable housing. 'And the process of getting into public housing is becoming longer and more complicated,' he said. However, Ms Ryan said for those on the receiving end of such activism, the consequences were anything but theoretical. If a squatter refuses to leave after being asked, the property owner must typically seek a possession order through legal channels — a process that can be lengthy and complex. Real estate agents say the process of removing unauthorised occupants from a property is far from straightforward, especially if the owner lives interstate. Mr Vorstenbosch said one of the problems was the lack of recourse for property owners if something happened to their homes. 'If the property owner is interstate, you can't even go through VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) anymore, you're redirected to the Magistrates Court, which can take up to six months. And that court isn't specialised in tenancy law, so mistakes happen.' But Mr van den Lamb argues that the real problem isn't scarcity, but distribution. 'At the last census, there were 30,000 people experiencing homelessness in Victoria. In metropolitan Melbourne alone, there are 100,000 empty homes... This isn't a supply issue. It's a distribution problem.' He also pushed back on criticism that his campaign might discourage landlords from renting out homes. 'These homes aren't being rented out,' he said. 'So that criticism doesn't really apply.' 'And if landlords are afraid to rent out homes that people could die in — then maybe that's a good thing, especially if we're talking about the substandard properties shown on Shit Rentals.' When asked whether he worked with homelessness services, he said there was 'informal collaboration' at times, but services were stretched. 'I think that would be unfortunately damaging to their reputations,' he said of formal partnerships, 'but I've spoken with many workers who have support and sympathy... and who've said there's literally nothing more they can do through their work.' Ms Ryan said for those on the receiving end of such activism, the consequences were anything but theoretical. 'As a society, we rely heavily on the private rental market,' Ms Ryan said. 'If we continue to make landlords feel vulnerable or vilified, we're only accelerating the very housing crisis we're trying to solve.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
IIT Kharagpur Summer Internship 2025: Application deadline, how to apply, eligibility, and what the online programme offers
The IEEE Computer Society at IIT Kharagpur, with the IEEE Kharagpur Section, has introduced the Summer Internship Programme 2025. This online internship offers Indian students hands-on experience in areas like AI/ML, cloud computing, and generative AI. Applications are open to undergraduates and postgraduates until June 21, 2025, with the internship commencing in early July. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Internship Domains in Focus AI/ML-Driven Network Management Cloud-Edge Computing & Vehicular Networking Machine Learning & Deep Learning Generative AI & Explainable AI How to Apply Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Updated CV (PDF, max 10 MB) Passport-size photograph (PDF/image, max 1 MB) Scanned signature (PDF/image, max 1 MB) Valid student ID card (PDF/image, max 1 MB) The IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter (CS SBC) at IIT Kharagpur, in collaboration with the IEEE Kharagpur Section, has launched the Summer Internship Programme 2025. This fully online internship provides a unique opportunity for tech-savvy students across India to gain hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge research and industry to undergraduate and postgraduate students (BTech, MTech, BSc, MSc, BCA, MCA, or equivalent), the 2–3 month internship enables participants to work on real-time projects under the guidance of experts from IIT Kharagpur and IEEE. The application deadline is June 21, can choose to work in one or more of the following high-demand areas:While a basic understanding of programming, DBMS, computer networks, operating systems, engineering math, Python, and introductory machine learning is recommended, prior expertise is not candidates must complete an online Google Form application and upload the following documents:Selected applicants will be informed by the end of June, with the internship starting in early July 2025.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Several Bengaluru students fall prey to online internship scams
Bengaluru: With internships being mandated by most professional courses, several students in the city are falling prey to scamsters offering online job training. Several students complained they were billed for opportunities that never came their way after signing up on so-called internship websites. These websites, frequently shared through WhatsApp student groups, advertise free internships apparently to strengthen student resumes, before charging a fee. The process usually starts with a straightforward Google Form distributed around student circles. A fee ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 500 is demanded from each candidate a few days later. Many claim that after payment, communication tends to get vague, with little or no clarity about the next steps. "Onboarding was lacking, roles were unclear, and there was very little communication other than a few messages in a WhatsApp group," Nisha Naveen, a second-year student, said. "It became evident after some time there was no internship at all," she added. Several others shared similar stories. "I thought by paying Rs 450, I would gain experience in content writing," said Arjun M, a final-year student. "But after making the payment, there was no real work, just a few generic instructions and a certificate template was shared." Some students tried to follow up, but they either didn't get any response at all or got delayed responses that made little sense. "Scammers are aware of students' vulnerability and take advantage of that urgency," said a parent. 'Always verify the source' Cybersecurity experts advise running a few basic checks before accepting any internship offer. "Always verify the source. Check for an official website, institutional email domain, physical address, and clear contact information. If these are missing, it's almost certainly a scam," said public interest technologist Anivar Aravind. "We've categorically told our students not to trust any internship offer unless they come directly from the placement cell or faculty. Many scams happen through WhatsApp, where students are added to groups via campus ambassadors and asked to pay for fake training or govt certifications," said Asgar Ahmed, a placement officer at MCC. He further said: "We maintain a database of verified companies, and in some cases, I've personally visited organisations only to find they don't exist. Students must always validate internship offers with their placement office before making any payments." Colleges said they do run background checks before accepting offers. "We do not share any internship link through WhatsApp. If a company approaches us, it must send an official email with verified contact details, a website address, and the company's registration number. Only after verifying these do we go ahead," said Anil P, placement officer at St Joseph's University. "When colleges offer internships, there's accountability, but if students are applying on their own, they must research thoroughly," said career counsellor Sudha Bhogle. Quote hangers: "I tried to email the organisers, but it bounced back. There were no phone numbers, names, or other traces. It began to seem suspicious, but I had already paid. I realised this was a scam." -- Ananya Kulkarni, student, media studies "I was added to a WhatsApp group that contained more than 50 other people. At first, it felt like something big was going to happen. However, days passed with no work, no updates. After waiting for two weeks, individuals began to gradually leave the group." -- Riya Menon, student — Esha Mayyia is an intern with TOI Bengaluru
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Will you ‘Capture Bangkok'?
Get your cameras ready, Bangkok! Time Out is thrilled to launch its inaugural 'Capture Bangkok' Photography Challenge, a city-wide call for your most stunning, evocative and unique images of the capital. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a passionate amateur, this is your chance to showcase your vision and have your work celebrated. In a megalopolis that pulses with a chaotic, and beautiful rhythm, every corner holds a story waiting to be told. From the serene temples of the Old Town to the dizzying heights of its modern skyscrapers, the frantic energy of its markets to the quiet moments of daily life, we want to see Bangkok through your eyes. You voted, the world listened Earlier this year, Bangkok was crowned the planet's second-best city by Time Out. That global recognition inspired 'Capture Bangkok.' This is more than a competition – it's a city-wide celebration of the talent and stories hiding in plain sight. We're inviting you to pound the pavement, explore the hidden sois, and capture the images that truly define Bangkok for you. How to enter Ready to take on the challenge? From June 30 to July 15, we'll accept your photo submissions via a Google Form. The link for submissions will be announced on June 30, so keep your eyes peeled on our website and social media channels. The prize The stakes are high! The winning photograph, selected by a panel of 10 participating photographers, will be showcased in a special exhibition. An exhibition in a historic setting Speaking of the exhibition, we're taking over The Corner House in Charoen Krung from August 7 to 20. This beautifully restored historic building, now a buzzing creative and lifestyle hub, provides the perfect backdrop to display the incredible photography from our readers. The exhibition will feature a curated selection of the most compelling entries, with the winning shot taking pride of place. The exhibition will kick off with an exclusive launch event on August 7, bringing together the city's creative minds and photography enthusiasts. This exciting new Time Out challenge is brought to you in partnership with Canon, a name synonymous with photographic excellence. So, what are you waiting for? Charge your batteries, polish your lenses and start exploring. We can't wait to see your 'Capture Bangkok' moments! Key dates:
India Today
4 days ago
- Business
- India Today
IIT Kharagpur offers free remote internship in AI, ML, and cloud tech till June 21
IIT Kharagpur's IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter (CS SBC), in collaboration with the IEEE Kharagpur Section, has officially launched the Summer Internship Programme 2025, offering an exceptional opportunity for aspiring tech professionals to gain research and industry exposure in cutting-edge domains. The internship is completely online, allowing students from across India to participate two-to-three-month internship is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students (BTech, MTech, BSc, MSc, BCA, MCA, or equivalent), offering them a chance to work on real-world projects and gain mentorship from experts affiliated with IIT Kharagpur and IEEE. The deadline to apply is June 21, DOMAINSInterns can choose to work in one or more of the following domains:AI/ML-Driven Network ManagementCloud-Edge Computing & Vehicular NetworkingMachine Learning & Deep LearningGenerative AI & Explainable AIThe program is designed to cater to students with a foundational understanding of programming, computer networks, operating systems, DBMS, engineering mathematics, and basic knowledge of machine learning and Python. However, prior expertise is not PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTSTo apply, candidates must submit a Google Form application along with the following documents:Updated CV (PDF, max 10 MB)Passport-size photo (PDF/Image, max 1 MB)Scanned signature (PDF/Image, max 1 MB)Valid student ID card (PDF/Image, max 1 MB)Applications must be submitted through the official form. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by the end of June, and the internship is scheduled to commence in early July here to check more details for AND VALUEWhile unpaid, the internship offers immense value through e-certificates, project mentorship, and the opportunity to engage with IIT Kharagpur faculty and IEEE professionals. Participants will gain crucial skills, portfolio projects, and references that will strengthen their academic and professional initiative is aimed at preparing the next generation of tech talent with practical experience and exposure to high-growth fields in science and engineering.
