The story below from The HeraldSun in Melbourne illustrates how advertising can be used to deceive people.
It is not a publishers role to validate the claims of advertisers’, other than to check basic advertising details as with an event: dates, times and venue.
Occasionally, an editor will suspect something is nqr. It may be a word, or a claim or a link, so if you have been sent a “please explain” message, here is why?
The Herald Sun Digital Edition: Awards ‘a sham’
BUSINESSES HAND OVER $30,000 FOR NOTHING
THE woman behind a suburban small business awards night is alleged to have scammed about $30,000 from participants.
Rhiannon Pilton promoted the event as a charity fundraiser , but the nominated group, homelessness support network Donation Chain Inc, never saw a cent of the cash.
And scores of people who attended the Frankston Business Awards “gala night” on February 21, 2019 branded it a sham.
Now they along with other furious local traders and venue managers are trying to track down Ms Pilton, who claimed to be director of an events firm called Agency83.
It is understood about 180 people accepted Ms Pilton’s invitation to the “not-forprofit” event following a series of congratulatory emails notifying small business owners of their seemingly prestigious nomination.
Each paid $175 to attend the “black tie, red carpet” event, which promised a three-course meal, drinks on the house and table service at Functions by the Bay.
Other “award nominees” paid $75 to accept their nomination .
The 23 categories — which Ms Pilton claimed were sponsored by EastLink, Telstra and NAB — included awards for hairdressing, pet services, business coaching, hospitality , rising star and emerging business of the year.
A NAB spokeswoman confirmed the bank had provided a donation to the awards “as part of our ongoing support for the local community” .
That donation is now being probed by NAB’s investigations team.
Donation Chain Inc founder Helena Blomeley said her group had not received any money from the gala night.
Ms Blomeley said she felt “let down” when Ms Pilton failed to make the payment and then blocked her phone and social media account.
“I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt and wait for her to pay everyone back, but she’s obviously run off,” she said.
“She rounded up a group of people who are really passionate and excited about Frankston and this is what she’s done … it’s disgusting.”
Megan Pearce, who attended with husband and EFM Health Clubs co-owner Shaun as nominees for the “Health Practitioner/Body” award, said the event was a “total sham” .
Ms Pearce said the bar tab ran for just half an hour and whispers regarding the event’s legitimacy circled around the crowd.
“Rhiannon got up on stage and said all the trophies had been stolen and that she could not present them to the winners,” she said. “There was also no three-course meal, it was just party pies and sausage rolls.”
MC and DJ Bruce Harrison said on Facebook Ms Pilton called him in a desperate attempt to find a host just hours before the awards night was to start. The Agency83 Facebook page has since been taken down.
Langwarrin counsellor and Rainbow Light Therapies owner Kim Norton described the situation as “an absolute disgrace” .
Victoria Police said it had not received a complaint. Ms Pilton could not be contacted for comment.
Source
This article is from the October 24, 2019 issue of The Herald Sun Digital Edition. To subscribe, visit https://www.heraldsun.com.au/.
The Herald Sun Digital Edition: Awards ‘a sham’
BRITTANY GOLDSMITH