Investigation into work scheme company

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 30

Investigation into work scheme company

PA Auckland The fraud squad and the Consumers’ Institute are investigating a company offering people “easy addressing work” with the chance to earn hundreds of dollars. Complaints have poured into police throughout New Zealand from people who have answered the Auckland-based company’s newspaper advertisements and handed over money. They have sent $25 cheques to post office box numbers in Orakei and Newton, waited the “two weeks for cheques to clear,” and never heard from the company again. The police are concerned because they have been unable to reach the people running the work schemes or to trace the

different company names so far used: D. Bartlett Services, Trade Services, and Trade Tiding.

The Consumers’ Institute said the advertisements were “dishonest” and said easy addressing work might be an easy way to lose money. After people answer the advertisement the company sends back a leaflet advising people how to earn $250 for every 1000 envelopes collected. “This work mainly consists of your collecting envelopes and doing addressing work for us,” the leaflet says.

“You will earn a minimum of $2OO for every 100 addressed labels and/ or $250 for collecting 1000 envelopes per instructions. But it is possible to earn $3OO for 100 addressed labels and even

more. Guaranteed payment every week.” A South Island woman who wrote to the "Auckland Star” , said she hurriedly sent $25 to buy a “starter’s kit” as instructed to help herself and family with their financial difficulties. That was more than eight weeks ago. “Sending off $25 for a starter kit ends up as a sad reminder that such schemes never live up to their promises,” said the institute. It said a similar scheme in Australia was being investigated as fraudulent.

Detective - Sergeant Mike Kelly, of Hamilton, said he advised people not to answer the advertisements and also advised newspapers not to run them.