Posts Tagged ‘fraud’

Supposed Google directory has no link to Google, investigated for fraud

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013
A New Zealand company calling itself GoogleDirectory and charging people thousands of dollars to be listed is now being investigated for fraud because it has no actual link to Google.
The company launched in July of this year but has been signing up companies since May, promoting itself as a new way for companies to market themselves online.

Fraud police are investigating a New Zealand company calling itself GoogleDirectory – set up with no links to the internet giant but which has listed thousands of businesses and state agencies.

The company launched last month, but had been signing on companies since at least May, promoting itself as a new online marketing tool.

Detective Senior Sergeant Aaron Pascoe, of the Auckland central police financial crime unit, said police had received several fraud complaints from businesses.

“The financial crime unit has received information about GoogleDirectory and we’re aware of allegations which has prompted us to look into it. We have spoken with a representative of the company,” he said.

Google, the search engine giant, has also launched its own investigation.

GoogleDirectory offered New Zealand businesses special internet advertisement packages ranging from $200 to $15,000.

The packages – which cost between $200 and $15,000 – promise to get a business advertised on its site, several other international websites and links to social media pages.

Business people who had been duped by GoogleDirectory said the company told them it was associated with Google and that the services they were purchasing would lead to a bonanza of online activity, none of which turned out to be true.

GoogleDirectory director Simon McLeod could not be tracked down by the New Zealand Herald for comment.

To read more on this story, click here.

Ex bank employee to pay for fraud

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Ex-ANZ bank mobile manager Zamir Hussain, has been ordered to pay the bank $1.2 million NZD in damages, reports stuff.co.nz today.  Mr Hussain perpetuated fraud by over-lending to customers.  ANZ was only aware of the fraud after the borrowers defaulted on their loans.

Mr Hussain was taken to the Employment Relations Authority, who ruled that his breach of duty of care in the 18 mortgage transactions resulted in a fine of $54,000 NZD.  However, in a separate decision, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled that he must pay more than$1.2 million NZD in damages for loss caused by his fraudulent conduct.

”Mr Hussain’s training and experience was such that he must have known of the real prospect of significant losses being caused by his careless or reckless actions,” stated the Employment Relations Authority.

ANZ maintains that it lost more than $3.5 million NZD as a result of the fraud.