Was this a real attempt at a scam? Or just an attempt to get some news coverage - like a prank? Like the first real scam on AirBNB someone wants to be the project everyone always talks about with online fundraising.
the difference is it got taken down before the prank became a scam. If it was never caught, and cashed out I don't think anyone would be calling a prank. Every system involving money always has people testing the boundries. This isn't the first and probably won't be the last.