WA government warns consumers about east coast “property investment spruikers"

Larry SchlesingerDecember 7, 2020

Consumers in WA are being warned about free property investment seminars being offered by east coast “property investment spruikers” a day after ASIC banned a Melbourne-based property investment adviser, also calling him a “spruiker”.

With the ominous heading of “Beware property investment spruikers”, WA’s department of consumer protection is urging potential investors “who may be lured into attending so-called ‘free’ property investment and wealth creation seminars to carefully consider what’s being offered before signing any contracts”.

It follows officers from consumer protection attending a number of these seminars to gauge the content and message being presented to potential investors.

WA commissioner for consumer protection Anne Driscoll said seminar attendees were subject to “high pressure sales tactics that promote coaching and mentoring programs costing between three and ten thousand dollars".

East coast property investment spruikers most likely see WA, with its cashed-up beneficiaries of the money boom, as easy targets for their investment programs.

The WA warning comes a day after ASIC banned Melbourne-based property investment adviser Matthew George, director of Money Choice and labelled him a “spruiker” as part of its crackdown on advice in relation to self-managed super fund property investments.

Last month a letter obtained by the Australian Financial Review revealed that four Melbourne businesses running seminars on investing in real estate through self-managed super funds are being investigated by ASIC over the potentially misleading nature of flyers, advertisements and online ads promoting these seminars.

Consumer protection officers have attended three separate seminars recently and report that all followed a similar formula:

  • The seminars were free to attend but were mainly a forum to sell expensive mentoring and coaching programs
  • Downplay the risks and costs involved in property investment
  • Claim to offer the secrets to financial success
  • Offer hints or teasers at the seminars, but participants had to pay for programs to get any further information
  • “Special” rates for the programs were offered if attendees signed up on the day

“The advertising of these seminars give the impression that those who attend simply receive free information about how to secure their financial future but, in fact, they are subjected to high pressure sales tactics that promote coaching and mentoring programs costing between three and ten thousand dollars ,” says Driscoll.

“The presentations highlighted the benefits of investing while downgrading the risks involved in securing the financial future of participants. They also appear to exaggerate the potential gains from property and other investments by following the promoter’s programs.

“The seminars appear to be just a clever sales tactic to get people into a room for many hours with the hope that they will sign up to expensive training courses, but very little information is offered for free. The question to ask is what would be the benefit to a promoter of holding a ‘free’ seminar if they didn’t sell something at the event.

“We believe some of the courses and programs on offer are just the next stage to get investors to make large financial investments that will be of benefit to the promoter, or simply a way to sell their coaching and mentoring packages.”

“I am concerned that the practice of offering special discounts to sign up on the day is designed to prevent the participants from having time to think carefully about their decisions and getting some independent professional advice,” the Commissioner said.

“We warn attendees to resist the pressure to sign any contracts or pay any fees when attending these events, without first getting proper independent advice from financial advisers and property investment professionals. Consumers should be wary about any ‘get rich quick’ claims being made.

“Consumer Protection has reviewed advertising material and seminar content and is preparing to issue substantiation notices to ensure promoters are able to justify the claims and representations that they make to members of the public.

“Promoters will be asked to justify their claims including the financial resources investors need to buy a property, the potential profit they could make within short periods of time and the substance of the course content.

“In certain instances, people may have rights to a 10 day cooling off period if they signed up for something they were not aware would be offered to them when agreeing to attend the seminar. If people believe they have been pressured into buying something under those circumstances, they can contact Consumer Protection to have their cases reviewed and to ascertain their rights.”

WA consumers with inquiries, concerns or complaints about property investment seminars can contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or email: consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au.

Larry Schlesinger

Larry Schlesinger was a property writer at Property Observer

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