Issue Date:  -  Friday, 14 January 2005

Bogus seminar baffles burswood

Consumer Protection is investigating a ‘seminar’ being supposedly held at the Burswood Resort next week on Wednesday and Thursday, January 19th and 20th and is asking for witnesses to the potential scam to come forward.

Burswood has neither knowledge of the event nor any record of space or facilities being booked.

Investigations indicate that hundreds of businesses have been sent glossy advertising fliers from Australian Seminars Corp. promoting a ‘Google Day Seminar’ for $275 per place using Google’s trademark.

“Our preliminary investigations have failed to find any records of Business or Company names for Australian Seminars Corp. An address given in their literature was found to be temporary office accommodation in Subiaco which has been vacated”, Deputy Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll said.

Burswood Resort and Internet giant Google Inc. have no knowledge of the event and have lodged complaints with Consumer Protection.

Bradley Stedman Norrish and Chesley Paul Rafferty both of East Perth signed for the temporary office accommodation that Consumer Protection has found to be connected with Australian Seminars Corp.

“Mr Norrish is known to the Department as he is facing Court on Monday January 17th to answer 60 charges relating to another of his operations, Employment Protection Australia”, Ms Driscoll said.

Consumer Protection’s enquiries are continuing.

Anyone who has sent fees to the Subiaco address should confirm if their cheque has been cleared and also contact the Department without delay on telephone 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@docep.wa.gov.au .