Welcome

Welcome to Aussie Scam Alert.

Here we try to expose scams operating mainly in Australia, but also some overseas ones targeting Australians. Not every business reviewed here is a scam. Some will be fine but are so closely associated with areas of mistrust that we feel it is in the public interest to review them. Please read our Watchlist if you can’t find what you are looking for on any of the other pages. The one you are looking for may be on our radar as one to watch out for. We can always do with information about any of the scams covered here, and also any ones that we have not heard about. Please help keep others safe.

Also, it’s worth having a read of Before you Invest – Invetisgate! 

All views expressed are opinion, presented in the general interest of the public. You should always do your own investigation and consideration of all facts and testimonials. If you would like to know about Why we operate, please read our About page.

We’ll leave you with wise words from ‘The Richest Man in Babylon’ . Take note of No.5 !

The Five Laws of Gold

1.Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family.

2. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.

3. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling.

4. Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.

5. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earning or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.

63 thoughts on “Welcome

  1. P

    Tim Shapter needs a …… to the head. Smart solutions scammed me out of around $15,000 Through one of his advisers. Jaxson Avery, Who just informed me about smart solution. Jaxson Avery just contacted me to see if he could advise me on my money again. What a #@^%$ dick. I only have a …… for each of these scammers. That is my investment advice For these ….s. God help Shapter if I ever find him.
    (Edited )

    Reply
      1. admin Post author

        Wow. Worth reading through that media release!

        Amazing there are no criminal charges. But that’s white collar crime for you..

        Reply
    1. Dani

      New company in the cold call superannuation scheme- the old company run by Tim Shapter- Smart solutions group morphed in Strategic Advice Network has now phoenixed again into Superannuation Advice Network- believe good old Tim is still an owner along with his old cronies. They will get you in the phone with a catch up call, you will talk to ‘and adviser” who will then put you back to the marketing person who will convince you to sign a 12 month contract on the spot. They also use National Advice Australia to cold call you and sign you up to a better deal and do the same dodgy advice and give you inflated returns as did Shapter. They are taking advantage – charged my brother over $4k to give advice – charged him $1000’a year for 3 year and now cos his balance is too low they said they won’t help him anymore – what a crock

      Reply
        1. BM

          Hi Margo
          Is compareyoursuper.com a scam?
          I can’t find much about them online saying they are so wanted to reach out to find out if they are.
          Thanks for your help.
          BM

          Reply
  2. Charlie

    David Bertrum – ex-wealth sure advisor who lost clients millions and went bankrupt is back, running Smart Solutions Group in Brisbane. who wants to get financial advice from an ex bankrupt? what skills can he claim to have? how to lose clients money and then run away? how can ASIC let such things happen. Can’t control his own money what right does he have looking after other peoples

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Do you mean he is the Director?
      Apparently the Royal Commission is still taking submissions about just this sort of thing.

      Reply
      1. charlie

        Director and also one of the advisors giving advice. Also ex-director and partner at Sentinel Private Wealth now also insolvent. David Bertram and Smart Solutions Group is only headed one way.

        Reply
    2. admin Post author

      Do you mean he is the Director?
      Well, even if not: The Royal Commission into misconduct in the banking, superannuation and financial services industry is still accepting submissions. The online form also enables you to provide the Royal Commission with other comments including your views on what changes you would like the Royal Commission to recommend.

      Please share your stories with the commission, as all submissions are recorded, reviewed and used to inform the Commission’s work.

      The web address for submissions is: https://financialservices.royalcommission.gov.au/Public-submissions/Pages/default.aspx

      Reply
      1. Amanda

        Admin need to do their job and research comments and get evidence before allowing such comments which are false allegations against business. Some maybe a scam but not all bussiness mentioned on this site are. Just like every other business owner these are real people trying to make a real living and not scamming people. Some of these comments are detrimental to real business owners and copping crap from ex employees who got let go for doing the wrong thing. Its not fair these people are allowed to ruin peoples lives over false statements.
        There is not even a contact number or email address for admin and business owners need to justify themselves on a public site. Admin need to wake up to themselves and not allow such slander.

        Reply
    3. Nelliette

      Thanks for this post Charli – was contacted and almost convinced to swap my Superannuation to Smart Solutions. Decided to do some research and found this site. Saved ????

      Reply
      1. charlie

        well he is certainly involved with them. using same afsl as them. so not sure what you talking about jessica, maybe not a employee…. but a shareholder owner, authorised rep under afsl?.
        they seem to be cold calling people too

        Reply
        1. Sarah

          I too worked for these guys and it is a legitimate business that preys on uneducated Australians and their retirement future. Owners use AMP MyNorth to self manage a super fund with ordinary Australians superannuation, building property and investing your money into their lavish lifestyles. They were signing client’s with terminal illnesses and using a computer system to generate a forecast that can never fail or be disproven as they have only been under this business name for 2 years. Beware and move your money before it is lost. I have let the ombudsman know of this business models and its sister companies Smart Solutions Group now Oakview ( edit: see rebuttal in additional comments) since old Tim Shapley is now before the higher courts and new owner Prudence Benson is coming out of bankruptcy. BEWARE

          Reply
          1. Shelly

            Smart Solutions Group is not now Oakview. They are now known as Strategic advice networt. Also have another company know as Superannuation advice Australia.

            Oakview is owned an run by 2 ex employees of Smart Solutions Group, they are no way linked to Tim or anyone else in those businesses.

            People need to do proper research before posting crap they dont no about

            Reply
            1. Paul

              They run a two company approach, they run a sales team that then hands people over to a financial adviser which runs a quick 30 second 3 paragraph script. Superannuation Advice Australia is all connected to a big sales force in Superannuation – limited advice for a high fee

              Reply
          2. jamie

            I was called out of the blue by National Advice Network, who transferred me to Superannuation Advice Australia located in Broadbeach. I googled the address and found that it was teh same address as National Super Solutions, who now say their address is in Varsity Lakes.

            National Super Solutions was under Smart Solutions Group, then The Advisory Firm where I have seen previous posts and other online comments about Paul Carcallas. now they are under NATIONAL Advice SOLUTIONS PTY LTD. which as the same address as The Advisory Firm.

            The Advisory Firm Currently have no advisors listed, so it is pretty obvious that Paul Carcallas and Naomi are swapping from The Advisory Firm to now the National.

            So Paul Carcallas is seems to have bounced between – The Advisory Frim, National Super Solutions, National Advice Solutions, National Super Solutions and Smart Solutions Group…..

            You can look up this information by going directly to https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/investing/financial-advice/financial-advisers-register#!001239463

            or if you go to asic.gov.au on the right hand side go to professional registers. put in the business name and then select Australian Financial Services Licencee or Authorised Representative and it will appear.

            Reply
            1. drew

              yep he worked with david orth at realwealth. camoriinvestments do the same with scott morrisson and mitch cator groups. they have a few setups as well.

              Reply
            2. Compliance chief

              As usual, people try to be investigators but get it wrong. Your link by address is so random and so wrong it’s almost criminal. If you were called by some company in Broadbeach how is it you suddenly link them to a compliant respectable afsl in Varsity, unless your a former disgruntled employee grinding your axe. I suspect the latter.

              Reply
                  1. Paul

                    has anyone heard of Wholesale Wealth in surfers paradise? they seem to be pitching the same story. I dont know if they are another spin off, but just seems so close to not be?

                    Reply
                    1. admin Post author

                      Not even an address on their website, (wholesalewealth.com.au ) and the section on lost super is an exact copy from superadviceaustralia:
                      “Thousands of successful super searches…and counting
                      We’ve recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost super our clients didn’t know existed and have proudly helped many everyday Australians on their journey to the retirement that they deserve.”

                      not that that means the two are linked..

                    2. drew

                      look up camori investments scott morrisson was banned. all these groups out of qld same as scott and mitch cator businesses.

  3. Pat Canuck

    Two more companies that need to be added to a scam alert list are Income Connect Australia (Steve Black) and In2Markets (Ron Anderson) where the money is placed and theoretically your bets are placed. For the first nine months the profits were excellent but you could never get phone calls answered or returned. No notice was given to clients that bonuses given meant you needed 20 to 50 times turnover before you access your funds. Doesn’t really matter because no matter what you were told or how the funds performed they simply will not allow you to withdraw money. I know of at least three accounts that grew to total 3/4 million dollars and I’m sure that is only the tip of the iceberg.
    Like so many there are virtual offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane but you’ll never find anyone there.
    The craziest thing about this is that the business model can work without ripping people off.

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      You can’t really know whether the business model works unless you are placing the bets yourself. So easily could be manipulated if they are doing it ‘in house’ ( as has happened before!)

      Reply
    2. peter M Clayton

      Steve Black, this name seems to come up regulary in some areas, wonder if this is his real name, the ACN for austwise has I beleive a Mr Walker registered as the director

      Reply
      1. admin Post author

        Yes, Steve Black does appear quite a lot. Seem to recall him operating with a few scams out of 18 Tedder Ave, Main Beach.
        No idea if it’s an alias or not.

        Reply
        1. admin Post author

          There has been a long police investigation into this one, and associated schemes. Not sure if they have laid any charges.

          Reply
  4. David

    Anyone know of inte options ,selling programs for binary trading. Their company name is wattle point Pty Ltd acn 169 691 436. Directors name is Duane Williams

    Reply
  5. stewart

    High options trading pty ltd sell you an automated trading platform with estimated returns of 400-700 dollars/week, The platform I bought was a basic one, cost 5500, to date after continued complaints of non performance, I have made absolutely nothing, and the help line or any one else are not contactable. I would be extremely wary of this company. I am now considering options to enforce the return of my $5500 and or prosecution for selling systems not fit for purpose

    Reply
  6. Simon Smith

    Hi
    My name is Simon and I would like information on where I can join a class action against Laybet Professionals. I have lost a lot of money with this company and I have done everything in my power in NSW through the legal system, and I would like to carry this on further. Please can you give me direction from here.

    Thanks
    Simon

    Reply
  7. Ross

    Any thoughts on this mob; phone call and email received yesterday 12 May 14

    Hello Ross,

    Please find information below as requested from phone conversation we had today on High Option Trading Pty Ltd “High Options Home Trading Program”.

    This is a unique home base trading business helping you to achieve a supplementary or mainstream income on a day to day basis. We will be happy to show online via the Internet a 10 minute live demonstration giving a full insight to how profits are achieved from our Fully Automated High Options Trading Program
    Kind Regards
    David Vanessi
    Website: http://www.highoptiontrading.com

    Reply
    1. Admin

      I would be very wary. Using terms that a few of the recent scams have been using. I will look into it.

      Reply
        1. Bruce

          I rung Servcorp..(07) 3121 3000 Friday to look for Follow Me Trading. so it appears they too have hi jacked the building number and put theirs in replace. (07) 3088 2829

          When I ask for Follow Me Trading the receptionist said they are not here and never heard of them…but on the website they advertise they have an office here..I know this company use to be Markets And You and changed names several times. On the run i assume. They still owe a lot of people a lot of money including my friends.

          Address: level 36/71 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000, Phone: (07) 3121 3000

          Reply
  8. William Struwe

    Just got information about ezylaytrading got conned as well must get greedy as we get older ,as the saying goes if it is to good to be true it normally is a con they got me twice I upgraded my membership as they said they had changed betting format have chased a scam before and won but don’t think we will achieve much with these blokes any way thanks for you action keep me informed regards willie struwe

    Reply
  9. Shelley

    I have gone through the very same thing as other people have commented on. I did the trial run at first for 4 days and it cost me $1,000 to do that for 4 days and it returned $67 in that time. After that I thought it sounded good and sent another $4,000 to start up a very small account as far as they were concerned. I was told it would return my money that I had laid out plus profit much better than a bank. This was May last year 2013. The account wasn’t doing great but was growing at a snail rate and I even thought as it grew slowly that I could have made more money with fixed investment in the bank. Then I received a call from a Michael Pollard from UK home business and he told me that the reason why my account was not moving very fast was it wasn’t big enough. He talked me into sending another $7000 and he would upgrade it to a $10,000 account and watch it grow now.This was 18/12/2013. I have not seen the evidence of that $7000 since then, So I contacted the company many many many times with no answer, then finally a man called me by the name Geoff Evans, he told me that he would look into it I sent him copies of my receipts and a copy of contract that Michael Pollard had e-mailed me. Geoff Evans sounded like he would get to the bottom of this but still no answer. Then yesterday 22/02/14 there is no website to even check my small account that was growing slowly. Now the only Website I could find was this one with all you people having the same problem. So my loss at this date in last 12 months is $12,000 NOT GOOD

    Reply

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