‘Hi Scott, I bought your domain’: Prankster takes over PM’s website

He might be prime minister of Australia, but Scott Morrison proved he is just like the rest of us on Friday after he allegedly forgot to renew the license for his personal website, leaving it open to an online prankster.

Just hours after the license expired, a savvy young tech worker took advantage of ScoMo’s lapse of memory and snapped it up for just $50, seizing control of the PM’s website and adding some less than complementary theme music to the official site.

Now when supporters visit the home page of website scottmorrison.com.au they are greeted by an image of the Liberal leader, while the song ‘Scotty Doesn’t Know’ by US punk band Lustra plays in the background. The lewd song, which repeats the lyrics “Scotty doesn’t know” throughout, became a hit after it was used in 2004 movie Euro Trip.

Jack Genesin stepped forward to take responsibly for the prank as his employer Digital Eagles posted a blog about their “enterprising young star”, describing how he purchased the expired domain from an after-market auction website, after ScoMo’s license expired.

However, the digital strategist insists he meant the prime minister no harm, revealing he has reached out to Morrison. He said: “Hi Scott, hope you’re having a great day. I bought your domain name when it expired. I don’t want anything bad to come from it. Could you please get in contact to arrange a transfer of the domain back to you.”

I have to say, seen a few squatters grab domains over the years from dipshits who didn't bother to renew them, but this has to be the classiest form of highlighting the stupidity, well done 👏🏼

"Scotty Doesn't Know*" Eurotrip 🤣

*Turn the sound up!https://t.co/wK6qGzxvyK pic.twitter.com/nyiSUiWgeu

— Noely ⚡️🏐 (@YaThinkN) October 18, 2018

People rushed to social media to praise Genesin for the prank, with one saying: “Australian of the year!!” Another wrote: “LEGEND! Scotty doesn’t know!!!!!”

While another said: “There is an old saying in politics – if you can’t run a website, then you can’t run the economy.”

The tech company, based in Victoria, went on to say that while Jack did not carry out any malicious activity after obtaining the prime minister’s domain, “the opposition party or others with malicious intent could definitely do some damage” had they gotten hold of the domain instead.

There is an old saying in politics – If you can’t run a website, then you can’t run the economyhttps://t.co/S94lNwJvEs (hit play)#ScottyDoesntKnow

— Jonathon Mann (@themann) October 18, 2018

Prime Minister Morrison is yet to address the gaffe, as he prepares to take on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb with Prince Harry on Friday afternoon. The pair will scale the Sydney landmark and raise the Invictus flag to mark the start of the games, which officially kick off this weekend.

While the Duke of Sussex is climbing the bridge, his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will return to Admiralty House for some much needed rest before the couple sit down with the prime minister and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten at Kirribilli House.

What do you think of this story? Do you think it’s funny that someone managed to take control of Scott Morrison’s website?