Commission warns public about 'work from home' scheme
Published04 Sep 2003
Issued 4 September 2003-04
The Commission is alerting the public to be wary of 'work from home' schemes where people are offered the possibility of working from home with the potential of earning thousands of dollars.
Director of Fair Trading Deborah Battell said that the Commission is currently investigating what it believes to be a scam operating in the South Auckland region. The scheme is promoted in letterbox flyers and offers work stuffing envelopes. People are asked to send off $24.95 payable to a 'DG Astle', but as far as the Commission is aware, no work or reply from DG Astle is then received.
"The Commission is concerned that this scheme is remarkably similar to one which it took action against last year," Ms Battell said.
"In June 2002, Gregson Cretchein Mathews was fined $5,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to a work from home scam, which also involved envelope stuffing and a $24.95 registration fee. The Commission's investigation revealed that over 800 people had sent in registration fees."
The Commission advises people to be particularly wary of work from home schemes that require 'registration' money to be sent to a post office box, with no other contact details.
"Anyone who is concerned that they may have been a target of a similar scheme should contact the Commission on 0800 943 600."
