THE BIZOP NEWS

Wow, I was researching http://www.perfect4u.com and http://www.one-vision.com (plus all the other names they used) for my business law degree and they are truly awful.

Have the leaders finally been indited? They will be facing long terms for:

Not correctly registered as a company internationally.

Operating illegally, without licence, when banned from Gibraltar.

Using proceeds of crimes (previous failed companies) to set up these companies.

Not declearing their true business model when opening up in various states. (there are 26 US states that would not allow them anyway) but bet they have been daft enough.

Money laundering charges, both in the past and currently.

Fraudulant advertising claims.

Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Singh, both in violation of their disqualified directorship bans in the UK.

No business address on the websites.

Plus numerous vilaltions of pyramid selling laws, despite how they try to dress it up (deceipt)

Finally our government seems to be acting strongly against pyramid / ponzi scams and other white collar crime in general.

Were they arrested in UK? Should not be a problem with current extradition treaties.

I will try to find out more, we have spoken to many victims worldwide and there are many more, but most are too embarressed to admit they were brainwashed and conned

Snake Oil Salesman, Roger Hamilton and the XL Scam sinks its fangs into the USA market.

A traveling scam that has milked consumers dry in Asia Pacific will hit the USA on the following:

Sunday 28th and Monday 29th September, 2008

USA Wealth Dynamics Experience
City:NV - Las Vegas Area

Country:United States

Venue:Green Valley Ranch Resort
Start
Time:8:00am
End Time:7:00pm
Roger Hamilton’s flagship event makes is debut in the United States. Join XLNT events in Las Vegas for the entrepreneur event of the year. Wealth Dynamics is the new language of business and this weekend will make that sure you are fluent. In one weekend you will gain a deep understanding of your own profile and how to take your business and financial life to the next level and beyond. You will also meet with entrepreneurs from all over the United Sates and the world as Wealth Dynamics debuts in the USA this September.

Contact:XLNT Events Las Vegas - Stephanie Graham, Stephanie.Graham@xlntevents

http://mingtiandi.com/?p=58
http://blog.datamanagementsolutions.biz/2008/06/shonky-operator.html

Daniel Priestley of Triumphant Events has either been duped by Roger Hamilton of XL Results Foundation or he is a con artist the same as Hamilton.

During two presentations in the UK selling XL life memberships Priestley did not disclose the prosecution by the Australian Competition and Consumer Association.

Nor did he disclose the fact Roger Hamilton had been the subject of an Asia Pacific petition and in his native Australia, several media articles have been published labelling XL Results Foundation as a ‘suspect business’

Because of his bald faced lies, after the presentation I did a google of Daniel Priestley. By co-incidence he was one of Hamilton's witnesses in the legal case against a former employee of Hamilton's who in public legal documents stated XL was keeping money meant for charity and expressed concern individuals were being duped.

In your protest to this blog you state it would have cost you $60,000 to submit a defence against ACCA. Yet during this time your were spending money to attempt to bankrupt a small business owner who simply stated XL was cause for concern.

Protecting your interests Priestley?

For the record I would like to know the commission based structure Priestley is earning to recruit individuals into XL Results Foundation in the UK?

Note for Priestley: I've sent a complaint against you and XL to the Consumer Protection body.

In 2005, Triumphant Events was approached to run an event roadshow for Imagine Essential Services (now listed on the ASX as IUL). Triumphant Events managed that roadshow for around 16 months.

Imagine's vision is to provide better choices to consumers regarding energy, technology and telephony. This big vision was something that hundreds of businesses bought into and became excited by because of the potential to effect environmental change.

In 2006, Imagine grew very rapidly and went from less than 40 Licensed Advisors to over 200 in less than 15 months. A growth that was beyond expectations.

During the period of rapid growth some key areas of Imagines development began to fall apart and claims that were made to people were not being met by Imagine.

The issues raised by the ACCC all related to the running of the Imagine business and not Triumphant Events. These were issues such as the profitability projections, the supplier agreements, the marketing support and the industry collaboration offered by Imagine.

Plans that were made based on normal growth were not delivered as intended by Imagine.

While marketing the Imagine events, Triumphant was provided with exact writen copy to use in marketing and promotion. To the best of our ability we determined that the marketing was an accurate reflection of Imagines business at the time. When the ACCC examined the Imagine case they found that because the claims were made at events run by Triumphant Events and due to the way that the business relationship was formed, Triumphant Events was implicated by default.

When the ACCC anounced that Triumphant Events was implicated it said that "don't shoot the messenger" was not a defense in this case. Even though Triumphant Events did not originate the claims nor did it have any controll over the delivery of the claims, the message was clear "marketing companies need to be more responsible for the message that they give".

Triumphant Events learned a valuable lesson and takes this message into it's new relationships.

The ACCC ordered that Triumphant Events was to print a notification on its web site for 90 days. No damages or costs were ordered against Triumphant Events.

Imagine Essential Services is now opperating as a listed company (IUL) and you can visit their web site at www.imagine.com.au

Note for SME's: It is also worthy for small businesses to note that Triumphant Events were advised that to properly complie a defense against the ACCC costs about $60,000-$80,000.

XL Results Foundation and the Roger Hamilton Pyramid Scheme hits Hong Kong

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/xl-results-foundation-c86817.html

Perfect4U and One-Vision is a fraud that has changed name 14 times in 12 years.

Each time it is "bounced" nobody gets paid except the bosses who will have taken their money out of the country.

Report it to your national financial fraud body, if operating in your area.

XL Results Foundation revenue is from the recruitment of individuals into the scheme. This is a classic pyramid scheme.

Thanks, Mitchell.

I filed a complaint against Roger Hamilton and the XL Results Foundation. This is the response received. You may publish this on your website if you think it is useful to US and Canada based consumers who have been duped by Roger Hamilton and XL Results Foundation.

Response to your consumer feedback.

Thank you for visiting our website and sharing your experience. Due to the nature of your submission, we advise you to file a complaint reporting this incident to http://www.ic3.gov/ or one of the other agencies listed on our "file a complaint" page.

Filing a complaint enables your complaint information to potentially be combined with other related subject information, which may result in the initiation or enhancement of an investigation.

Sorry, Steve. This is in part my fault - I should have visited the site and contacted you. Let me do a mea culpa tomorrow and give you the link that you deserve.

Since John has copied the full text of my blog post to this forum, we might as well have the full URL... http://blog.datamanagementsolutions.biz/2008/06/shonky-operator.html

Mike

You would be interested to note in public legal documents in Singapore, Daniel Priestley is listed as a plaintiff for Roger Hamilton against an Australian whistle blower who voiced concern over XL being a scam. These Rats stick together.

With the information from this blog (in particular the link of the prosecution against Triumphant Events) I have contacted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Hamilton is due in Australia next week on a plunder and pilage sales trip which includes no less than four cities in four days.

XL is nothing more than a smoke and mirrors pyramid scheme operated by snake oil salesmen.

Thanks, I also saw this reference, http://www.triumphantevents.com.au/accumen.php, which has some interesting details.

Mike

Daniel Priestley is listed as the Director of Triumphant Events in Australia.

http://www.triumphantevents.com.au/companyprofile.php

the same company prosecuted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and now flogging Roger Hamilton's XL Results Foundation Life Memberships in the United Kingdom

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/791544

Flora, good for you!

Andy, why do you say that Daniel Priestly is connected with the Australian group that has been prosecuted?

Non disclosure to XL Results Foundation Members - Fraudulent Business

XL Results Foundation is promoted by Mr Daniel Priestley of Triumphant Events in the United Kingdom, St John's House, St John's Square London.

www.triumphantevents.com

http://www.triumphantevents.com.au/images/annexure-a-document.pdf?PHPSESSID=c3bcdd5455dc3b2148b047b8fa22a502

In June 2007 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) commenced legal action against The Triumphant Group Pty Ltd (trading as Triumphant Events) for alleged contraventions of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

The Federal Court of Australia has declared by consent that Triumphant, by engaging in the above conduct, contravened the Act. The Court also made orders by consent restraining Triumphant from engaging in the offending conduct in the future.

Thanks for visiting my blog, there are plenty of aspiring business people being tempted by the promises of the XL Results Foundation. You can all network free of charge at my blog, where I am pleased to say one reader saved her membership fee by reading the cautionary tale BEFORE attending an XL Results Business Breakfast.

http://blog.datamanagementsolutions.biz/dms.html

Shonky Operator

Beware of Roger Hamilton and XL Results Foundation

I recently received an invitation to a presentation in Wellington by Roger Hamilton from XL Results Foundation.

The topics of the meeting included personal profiling, wealth creation, and business success. I figure I always have something to learn.

He does this all around the world.

I attended the evening event, and also the follow-up breakfast meeting the following morning. What I witnessed was quite disturbing - to the extent that I am moved to comment on it, as well as to alert the organisation that promoted it to me.

Roger Hamilton is an interesting and entertaining presenter. Give credit where credit is due. He is a clever guy, he shared some good ideas, and I learnt something for sure.

However, his core purpose is not to inform. The whole thing is a sales process.

Well, in business there's sales and there's sales. I am not qualified to comment on legalities, but I am surprised that what he is doing does not cross over the boundary into being classified in New Zealand as an illegal pyramid scheme.

Either way, he certainly crosses the boundary of ethics and honesty, very skillfully using psychological techniques to deceive and manipulate.

As a result, I saw a large number of people part with a large amount of money, for a product which is not worth a small fraction of what they paid, in response to vague and misleading information and straight out lies.

Sure, they signed their names voluntarily, and people have a right to make their own impulsive decisions, and to pay money without doing due diligence if they so choose. So that's all accepted.

But it's still a nasty scam.

In researching about it afterwards, I found a number of web sites and blogs where others have similar concerns. On one of those, the author asks "How you feel when you hear about people being swindled in the same way - do you let it happen, ignore or speak out?" I think I will speak out at any opportunity.

Having said that, I need to try and be succinct. So, what was for sale? Life Membership of Mr Hamilton's little club. What is the price? $NZ14,500 per person if paid on the spot, or $NZ17,500 if paid in instalments over 12 months. Is there an opportunity to review any hard information before making a commitment? No.

Here's a brief overview of the sales process:

The man with the gift of the gab gets everyone real hyped up.
Those who "resonate" with the hype have to fill in the application form.
After that you get told the price.
After that, you compete to be one of the 5 who will be accepted (except that after the first 5, they keep accepting people anyway - there were 10 who took the plunge when I was there).
After that, you have to give your credit card details, and sign the form which states no refunds.
After that, you get some specific details about what you get for the money.
Well, that last point is a tad unfair, I admit. During the course of the talk, you do get some snippets of information, in very emotive and general terms, about Life Membership. But certainly not enough to base a rational decision on.

Pretty much what it comes down to is:

Subscription to a monthly magazine - lots of advertising and the occasional interesting article.
Potential benefits of social networking with other members. Sort of like a private LinkedIn.
The opportunity to contribute to charities, in some undefined way.
An income opportunity by getting a 10% cut of the membership fee of people you refer (this was not mentioned at the meeting, I found out about it later).
Attendance at a whiz-bang function.
Access to life/business coaching.
$14,500?? C'mon!

On the face of it, the coaching aspect sounds like the most meaty of the offerings. But then, if I'm going to get coaching, I need to find a coach I can "click" with.

I have no idea, of course, about any of the coaches within that organisation. There was one of them at the meeting I attended, and I sure wouldn't have "clicked" with him.

But you would have to assume that the coaches are all people who at some stage have been through the same process I observed. That means they are not representative. It means they are people who are able to be swayed by excitement. It means they are people who have demonstrated their willingness to invest large amounts of cash without proper consideration. It means they do not have a well-developed ability to detect unethical behaviour. It means they are not for me.

So that's the value for money aspect. But in the end, it is primarily the snake-oil tactics that I am upset about.

Something just really got to me about this. Because I saw it first-hand, I suppose. It was certainly amazing to see the vulnerability of some folks, and to reinforce my belief in the concept of consumer protection.

Which is simply my point... Watch out!

XL Results Foundation is a pyramid scheme and Roger Hamilton is a fraud

http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/
http://xlresultsfoundationscam.blogspot.com/

Roger Hamilton of XL Results Foundation is a fraudster duping people on a mass scale.

Suspect 'wealth creation' network in Brisbane
Georgina Robinson | May 30, 2007 - 2:01PM

A global business networking scheme that's under a legal and financial cloud in Singapore will target Brisbane investors in seminars tonight and tomorrow morning.

Results Net Australia is the Australian arm of XL Results Foundation, a business coaching club that purports to generate "wealth beyond words" for its members at the same time as working to eradicate poverty.

Consumers pay $US8600 to join as life members in return for access to online networks, mentoring and coaching seminars.

Members can on-sell their memberships after one year, but about 69 life members in Singapore last year were refunded their money, claiming they were duped by Foundation director, Roger Hamilton.

Forty of the disgruntled members defied Singaporean law, which bans public demonstrations, to march on the company's office and deliver their demands in writing.

They claimed they were led to believe their memberships would appreciate in value and generate a profit upon selling, and that the company would help them find buyers for the memberships.

However, they said when they wanted to sell they could not.

The members also alleged they did not get access to the extensive network of business contacts the scheme promised.

Paul Dunn, the head of the company's Australian arm, said there was nothing unusual about the refunds.

"I've been in business and speaking for 27 years and people trust me," he said.

"If, for whatever reason, we don't deliver value for money for the customer then they shouldn't pay for that."

The company, formerly known as Competitive Edge, currently has 640 members in Australia and about 1000 worldwide.

In the 2005-2006 financial year it reported a $207,600 net profit.

Two complaints against the company have been lodged with the state government's Office of Fair Trading but investigations did not revealed any legal breaches.

It is understood the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading has received a complaint against the company.

In Brisbane this evening the company has invited people to listen for free to Mr Hamilton - a millionaire author and the company's founder - to give a "Wealth Dynamics" address at an inner-city hotel.

It will be followed by a breakfast seminar tomorrow morning where guests will be briefed on the company's "extraordinary vision towards 'binding' entrepreneurs together to eliminate poverty on our planet".

Queensland Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech said people should be wary of "get rich quick" schemes.

"People are sometimes lured into these schemes by free breakfast, lunch or dinner conferences and promises of wealth," Ms Keech said.

"The sting comes at the end of the conference when people are asked to pay thousands of dollars to sign up for the 'advanced course'."

Ms Keech said wealth creation seminars were notoriously high-risk.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/arti...205312469.html

She warned people not to commit to sales on the day of seminars and to seek independent financial and legal advice.

Why would a company monitor blogs for negative comments? Paranoid?

Business Networking Scam hits Shanghai

May 20, 2008 – 7:52 pm

http://mingtiandi.com/?p=58

This strays a bit from our usual Mingtiandi vein, but I just received a scam appeal to entrepreneurs that I thought might be worth warning folks about.

I received two emails inviting me to an “Exclusive business breakfast meeting by invitation only!” from something cheesily called the “XL Results Foundation.”

It seems this foundation is a bogus business networking scheme that bilks would-be entrepreneurs for membership money while providing them with non-existent training and networking opportunities. And I thought those dodgy financial consultants were bad! You can find out how the scam works from this posting on ripoffreport.com and this Australian report from Perth.

In the mail, the XL Foundation describes itself as, “the world’s leading entrepreneur and social enterprise network.” But offers no grounds for this assertion. These tricksters from Singapore further assert that their ringleader will, “explain how Businessmen and Entrepreneurs can take advantage of emerging Business Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region.” Evidently the secret to taking advantage of opportunities is tO cOmpletely Ignore all standards reGarding Capitalisation. and the grammar.

It seems this pyramid scam has already made the rounds in Singapore, Indonesia and Australia and is now hoping to take advantage of the overly optimistic crowding the streets of Shanghai.

If you get this same email as I did, just toss it in the bin and save your business cards for the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.