This Aussie YouTube vlogger tried to expose ‘scammers’. How did he end up being charged instead?
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In the age of the internet, it seems like everyone’s got a camera, a cause, and a YouTube channel.
But for one young Aussie, what started as a quest to do good and expose wrongdoers nearly landed him behind bars for almost a decade.
Pete Zogoulas, the 25-year-old behind the popular 'Pete Z' YouTube channel, has built a following of over 250,000 subscribers with his daring 'sneak-in' videos—think trespassing into theme parks, hotels, and even planes, all for the thrill of viral fame.
But after a year-long silence, Pete returned to the platform with a bombshell: his home had been raided by police, and he was facing serious criminal charges, all because of his efforts to expose alleged scammers.
In a candid 26-minute video, Pete opened up about the ordeal that turned his life upside down.
The video begins with real police bodycam footage from the August 2024 raid on his Brisbane home. The officers, search warrant in hand, inform a stunned Pete that he’s being detained in connection with a stalking investigation.
So, what happened? After years of pushing the boundaries with his 'sneak-in' stunts, Pete decided to pivot his content.
He wanted to move away from mischief and towards something he felt was more meaningful: exposing scammers and helping people avoid being ripped off.
'I thought this was the most innocent kind of video I could possibly do,' he explained. 'I finally felt like I was doing something good for society.'
But things quickly went south. His first scammer-exposing videos—one of which involved tracking down a scammer using a hidden AirTag inside a Star Wars Mandalorian piggy bank—were taken down by YouTube after racking up millions of views. His Instagram account was banned. And then, the police came knocking.
The crux of the legal trouble? That AirTag. While Pete insists he never followed anyone home or intended harm, the law saw things differently.
Using a tracking device, even for a self-styled investigation, can constitute stalking. Posting the footage online? That’s cyber-bullying and harassment, according to authorities.
Police seized Pete’s electronics, the AirTag, and the infamous piggy bank. He was charged with unlawful stalking (relating to incidents in April and July 2024) and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence.
To make matters worse, he was also hit with two unrelated trespass charges from his earlier 'sneak-in' days.
Pete was taken to the Brisbane Watch House, held in a cell for five hours, and then released on bail. The conditions were strict: no contact with the alleged victims, no approaching certain locations, and no posting about them on social media.
It wasn’t until his first court appearance that the gravity of the situation truly hit home.
You can watch the full explanation from Pete here. Source: Pete Z / Youtube.
The stalking charge alone carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison; the harassment charge, up to three. 'I could have done up to eight years in prison,' Pete said, still sounding shell-shocked.
Fortunately for Pete, his lawyers managed to strike a deal with prosecutors. The most serious charges were dropped in exchange for his participation in Adult Restorative Justice Conferencing (a form of mediation), a guilty plea to the trespass charges, and payment of compensation. In the end, Pete avoided a conviction and was fined $800.
Read more: When men in power target children, should bail even be an option?
What do you think, members? Was Pete Zogoulas in the wrong, or was he just trying to help? Have you ever tried to expose a scammer or been tempted to take matters into your own hands? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
But for one young Aussie, what started as a quest to do good and expose wrongdoers nearly landed him behind bars for almost a decade.
Pete Zogoulas, the 25-year-old behind the popular 'Pete Z' YouTube channel, has built a following of over 250,000 subscribers with his daring 'sneak-in' videos—think trespassing into theme parks, hotels, and even planes, all for the thrill of viral fame.
But after a year-long silence, Pete returned to the platform with a bombshell: his home had been raided by police, and he was facing serious criminal charges, all because of his efforts to expose alleged scammers.
In a candid 26-minute video, Pete opened up about the ordeal that turned his life upside down.
The video begins with real police bodycam footage from the August 2024 raid on his Brisbane home. The officers, search warrant in hand, inform a stunned Pete that he’s being detained in connection with a stalking investigation.
Aussie YouTuber Pete Zogoulas was charged with stalking and faced potential prison time after using an AirTag to track an alleged scammer for one of his videos. Image source: Pete Z / Youtube.
So, what happened? After years of pushing the boundaries with his 'sneak-in' stunts, Pete decided to pivot his content.
He wanted to move away from mischief and towards something he felt was more meaningful: exposing scammers and helping people avoid being ripped off.
'I thought this was the most innocent kind of video I could possibly do,' he explained. 'I finally felt like I was doing something good for society.'
But things quickly went south. His first scammer-exposing videos—one of which involved tracking down a scammer using a hidden AirTag inside a Star Wars Mandalorian piggy bank—were taken down by YouTube after racking up millions of views. His Instagram account was banned. And then, the police came knocking.
The crux of the legal trouble? That AirTag. While Pete insists he never followed anyone home or intended harm, the law saw things differently.
Using a tracking device, even for a self-styled investigation, can constitute stalking. Posting the footage online? That’s cyber-bullying and harassment, according to authorities.
His home was raided by police, electronics were seized, and he spent five hours in jail before being released on bail. Image source: Pete Z / Youtube.
Police seized Pete’s electronics, the AirTag, and the infamous piggy bank. He was charged with unlawful stalking (relating to incidents in April and July 2024) and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence.
To make matters worse, he was also hit with two unrelated trespass charges from his earlier 'sneak-in' days.
Pete was taken to the Brisbane Watch House, held in a cell for five hours, and then released on bail. The conditions were strict: no contact with the alleged victims, no approaching certain locations, and no posting about them on social media.
It wasn’t until his first court appearance that the gravity of the situation truly hit home.
You can watch the full explanation from Pete here. Source: Pete Z / Youtube.
The stalking charge alone carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison; the harassment charge, up to three. 'I could have done up to eight years in prison,' Pete said, still sounding shell-shocked.
Fortunately for Pete, his lawyers managed to strike a deal with prosecutors. The most serious charges were dropped in exchange for his participation in Adult Restorative Justice Conferencing (a form of mediation), a guilty plea to the trespass charges, and payment of compensation. In the end, Pete avoided a conviction and was fined $800.
Read more: When men in power target children, should bail even be an option?
What do you think, members? Was Pete Zogoulas in the wrong, or was he just trying to help? Have you ever tried to expose a scammer or been tempted to take matters into your own hands? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
