Irish Gypsies back in Queensland with old consumer ripoff

The Irish Gypsies are back ripping off individuals and businesses with their well-practised bitumen scam.

They have targeted Ipswich in the past and were last reported on Brisbane's southside.

Ipswich residents - particularly those in the eastern suburbs - should be on the lookout for these swindlers.

Last time, one businessman at Lower Cross Street Goodna was swindled out of thousands of dollars over a dodgy bitumen job.

The Irish Gypsies laid white sand over the top of their sub-standard work, telling the small business owner the sand was needed to "cure" the bitumen.

Only when the sand washed away a few days later, did the extent of the wafer thin coating of bitumen become obvious.

The Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading has issued the following warning against these dodgy characters:

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
13/12/2009

Dodgy bitumen trader alert for Brisbane southside area

Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor today warned residents around Eight Mile Plains and Acacia Ridge to beware of dodgy bitumen traders targeting the area.

Mr Lawlor said the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had received information of residents being approached by a group of men offering to lay hot mix driveways.

"The group consists of a male with a strong Irish accent and four or five males who are the labourers," Mr Lawlor said.

"They have approached people saying they have left over bitumen from their last job.

"They do the driveway job and give a price on completion. The work is sub-standard and cash is usually always demanded."

Mr Lawlor said one Acacia Ridge resident who agreed to the work was sprung with a $5,000 bill.

"No upfront quote was given so the resident was alarmed at the cost and also intimidated by the group of men, who demanded their money," he said.

"Another resident in Eight Mile Plains paid $9,000."

Mr Lawlor said anyone approached by the men should try and get their vehicle registration details and advise the OFT immediately on 13 13 04.

He said these particular traders had been previously spotted in the Bayside area and that they may be operating in surrounding suburbs or regions now.

Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, door-to-door sales of any goods or service of more than $75 must come with a 10 day cooling off period and payment cannot be made until after then.

Buyers should get two forms - one explaining the cooling off period and one which can be used to cancel the contract if so desired.

"Door-to-door traders must produce an identity card with the dealer's full name and address," Mr Lawlor said.

"They are only allowed to contact customers between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.

"Fines of up to $54,000 apply to individuals and $270,000 to companies for breaches of the Fair Trading Act."

Report any scams or suspicious offers to the Office of Fair Trading at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04

.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

New internet scam hits Australia

With millions of dollars being ripped from the pockets of Australian internet users every year, the email scams are becoming simpler but still deadly effective.

The scams seem innocent enough with the simple advice in the latest scam that the recipient has won 750,000 Great Britain Pounds.

I then asks only for the person's Name, Age and Country.

All pretty innocent until the final sting when they ask for your bank account details supposedly to deposit the winnings into.
Within minutes, your bank account is stripped of all its funds.

This can happen to hundreds of internet users at a time as the result of just one worldwide email.

Be warned and warn your friends, especially those new to the internet.

This is the full text of the latest scam email:


From: Irish News Centre

You won 750,000 GBP.

Send: Name, Age, Country


.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Latest internet scam hits Australia overnight

The latest internet scam to hit Australia is offering
£750,000 UK to unsuspecting internet users who pass on their personal details.

Be warned and warn your friends.

The Australian Government should use it anti-spam powers to stop these emails flooding Australia which are financially destructive to many trusting Australian families.

This is a copy of the latest scam email:


FROM: Official Notice

You are awarded 750,000.00 Pounds by the British Toyota Promotion, Provide your *Full Names: *Address: *Occupation

Name
Address
Occupation



.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

A Mighty Angry Australian Fast Food Bunfight!

HUNGRY JACK'S vs McDONALD'S

Just when everyone has had a total gutful of McDonald's Mighty Angus Burgers, Hungry Jack's has weighed into the Australian beef bunfight with its own Angry Angus Burger.

No one in Australia could tell the difference between one of McDonald's traditional fatty patties or their overpriced, not-so-fancy Angus beef patties which have been raking in untold profits for the company's headquarters in the United States.

Only a dill - or Clive Palmer with money to burn - would fork out for a McDonald's Mighty Angus Mighty Ordinary Burger.

The sooner Australian punters boycott these slick and not-so-special promotions the better.

But not to be outdone by Maccas, Hungry Jack's has now launched its very own Angry Angus Burger.

But the Angry Angus also fails the taste test with the meat patty being totally indistinguishable from Hungry Jack's normal fatty fare.

Too little, too late by HJs.
But there is one other problem for the marketing gurus at Hungry Jack's.

The average customer would feel like a complete dill ordering an "Angry Angus".

Whichever fresh-faced marketing graduate came up with such an idiotic name should be given the Royal Order of the Boot by Hungry Jack's.

What will their overcharging marketeers think of next:

- Demented Fish and Chips

- Pathetic Pepperoni Pizza; or what about

- Maniac Meat Pie.

The sooner the Mighty Angus and Angry Angus hit the dustbins of disgust the better.

Give me a Cheeseburger or Aussie Burger any day.

On second thoughts, I'll give both of them a big miss cos I'm Mighty Angry with all this crap.

PS - Today, I heard one poor bugger at Hungry Jacks ordering an Angry Anus. I suppose that's a bit better than ordering a Mighty Anus from McDonald's!

.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Tasmanian Police raise the spectre of Joh's Gestapo in Queensland

82 year old Peter Cundall
arrested by Tasmanian
Police for exercising his
democratic rights


The heavy handed, authoritarian arrest in Hobart of Australia's most-beloved television gardening commentator Peter Cundall shows the depths to which the Tasmanian Police have sunk in the name of democracy.

82 year old Peter Cundall was taking part in a peaceful, anti-pulp mill environmental protest when he was given a direction to move on outside Parliament House - a worldwide police tactic used to quash legitimate dissent.

Within seconds, police pounced and arrested the quietly spoken octogenarian, hauling him off like a common criminal.

Old Joh Bjelke-Petersen -the eccentric anti-democratic, anti-civil libertarian Premier of Queensland from 1968 - 1988 - would have been rattling in his grave with excitement over Peter Cundall's summary arrest.


The cop involved in yesterday's incident -which has made headlines across the nation - should be quietly shipped off to Port Arthur or King Island for a few months to contemplate his navel and to consider whether or not his actions were truly necessary to preserve democracy and public safety in the Apple Isle.

What the cop did was probably "legal" but was it a sensible and appropriate exercise of a police officer's extensive powers in the circumstances?

The Tasmanian Government should erect signs outside the Hobart Airport reading:

"Welcome to Tasmania - where dissent is quashed and old folk are sent to the slammer before they die".


.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Do you have a GPS or Mobile Phone?

THIS WARNING HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES:

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game.

Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans.

Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.

The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house.

They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house.

The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.

It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it.

Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.   

MOBILE PHONES

I never thought of this.......

This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen.

Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet etc was stolen.

20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.

'When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.

The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number.

Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson:

Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.

Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad,Mom, etc....

And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them.

If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.

*PLEASE PASS THIS ON*

I never thought about the above!

As of now, I no longer have 'home' listed on my cell phone.               

.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Brisbane's Black and White Cabs are a national disgrace

CUSTOMERS SHOULD BOYCOTT BLACK AND WHITE CABS

When Black and White cab driver John Busst of suburban Annerley in Brisbane offered "good old fashioned service" to his customers, what did the clowns running the B & W company do?

They sacked him!

B & W cabs already have a poor reputation for customer service in Brisbane, now they have banned an honest driver in a totally un-Australian way.

Despite the bleatings of B & W boss Greg Webb that John Busst is a "rogue driver", the public will never see it that way.

It is incredible that in this day and age, someone could be sacked for being an honest, hard-working individual.

Shame on B & W cabs.

Brisbane commuters should vote with their feet and boycott this un-Australian cab company.


.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Woolworths marketing gurus should go back to school!

Why can't the Fresh Food People get their spelling right?

Surely their marketing brains trust knows the difference between "affected" and "effected".
Bloody hopeless!

.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

Channel 9 gives Queensland viewers second class service

Daylight saving will be blamed by Channel 9 but Queensland viewers don't deserve to have the Australia vs New Zealand Test Match this morning on an hour delay from England.

It is absurd that the result of the game was broadcast on Brisbane radio stations an hour before the delayed telecast finished.

It's bad enough to have to endure Channel 7's delayed telecast of the Australian Tennis Open from Melbourne every year.

Now, Rugby League has succumbed to this second rate service.

Maybe, Pay TV is really the answer to this problem despite the current campaign by the free-to-air networks to stop any inroads by pay television into their traditional territory.

Viewers would prefer to pay for live coverage of big events than a less-than-live offering by the networks.


.........................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................

GOODNA: Police move in on bikies at the Royal Mail Hotel

PIC: Police intercept bikies at Goodna today

If this is what the police are doing BEFORE the anti-bikie laws become law in Queensland, perhaps we really do need a Federal Bill of Rights.

.....................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Howard as head of the NRL? You've got to be joking.

Fair dinkum.

Just when the buffoons running the National Rugby League are trying to get over another terrible year, they hatch a devious plot to resurrect John Howard as the boss of the NRL.

Little Johnny may have some skills, but running the major football code in Australia doesn't seem to be one of them.

David Gallop should give the game away if this is the best he can do to revitalise this national icon.

Prime Minister Howard was booed off every football oval he attended in Australia and you don't have to be Einstein to figure out the same would happen if he became the NRL boss.

......................................................
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Channel 9 annoys and deceives viewers across Australia

Channel 9 advertised all night a special 10.00pm Late News edition on today's devastating Samoan tsunami.

With Samoans, Tongans and other Pacific Islanders around Australia waiting on news of their loved ones, what did Channel 9 do?

It allowed the idiotic escapades of PluckA Duck and other clueless imbeciles to run over by a disgraceful 25 minutes.

This is an appalling gaffe by Channel 9 which has lost the goodwill of thousands of Australian viewers with relatives in the South Pacific.

These people deserve a massive apology from the Nine Network of Australia.

...................................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Office of Fair Trading secures $23,000 fine against unlicensed motor dealer Michael James Harradine

The Queensland Office of Fair Trading has successfully prosecuted Doolandella man Michael James Harradine for selling motor vehicles without a licence.

Mr Harradine's licence was cancelled 4 years ago.

Members of the public are being warned by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading Peter Lawlor about this character.

Hopefully, Harradine has learnt his well-deserved lesson the hard way.

This is the full text of today's media release by the Minister:

Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading

The Honourable Peter Lawlor

24/09/2009

Doolandella man fined $23,000

A Doolandella man has been fined a total of $23,000 after pleading guilty to selling motor vehicles without a licence.

Michael James Harradine appeared in the Richlands Magistrates Court on the 14th September and pleaded guilty to one charge of unlicensed motor dealing and five charges of making false and misleading representations from an address at Doolandella and one charge of unlicensed motor dealing from an address in Toowoomba.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said the charges were a result of an investigation by Office of Fair Trading officers.

"Mr Harradine's motor dealers' licence had been cancelled in 2005," Mr Lawlor said.

"However, when OFT officers attended his home in Doolandella they found he had several vehicles at his residence for sale," he said.

"These vehicles were advertised in newspapers and on the internet as being for sale.

"In addition, Mr Harradine gave false information to the purchasers about the background of the vehicles he was selling.

"The misleading information included that the vehicles had been owned by various relatives of Mr Harradine and that he had personally worked on one of the vehicles as a mechanic.

"Mr Harradine told investigators he told fibs or stretched the truth when telling people details about the vehicles.

"OFT officers also identified that Mr Harradine was operating out of business address in Toowoomba dealing in used motorcycles.

"The Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act is in place to protect consumers against unscrupulous people who operate outside the law.

"Mr Harradine received a significant fine for these offences which is indicative of how seriously these types of offences are viewed.

"Consumers should be able to have confidence that they are working with a licensed motor dealer and that details about the vehicle they are interested in purchasing are correct."

..................................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Benjamin Wayne Gough - Manager Harcourts Bundaberg features on Today Tonight

PIC: Ben Gough (centre) on Channel 7's Today Tonight on 21 September 2009

Today Tonight ran a story this evening over the actions of Ben Gough in buying and selling a property on the same day at a substantial profit.

He claims he was acting legally and ethically.

That's not what the sellers think.

What does the Queensland State Manager of Harcourts think?

Have you had any dealings with Ben Gough?

Let us know at: Queensland Consumer Watch@gmail.com

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company

Media Release from Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully

- James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company after revealing plans to sue Queensland Council -


James Hardie has been declared Australia's most-disgraceful company after it was revealed it is suing Ipswich City Council to recover $195,000 the company paid to a former worker who was exposed to asbestos from the company's products.

In a bizarre twist to last year's successful legal claim against the company by a former council worker for exposure to asbestos, the company is now suing to recover the money from the Ipswich Council.

The worker - Anthony Cannon - was employed by Ipswich City Council for six weeks in 1976.

James Hardie settled the action but is now attempting to recover its payout to the worker.

Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, a 30-year veteran of local government, has blasted James Hardie claiming it is the "most-disgraceful, penny-pinching company in Australia".

Cr Tully said the company's latest tactic of trying to shift the legal blame from themselves to individual users of their asbestos products was a "national disgrace".

"This company has destroyed workers' lives across Australia and is now trying to find a scapegoat for the numerous legal actions which it has unsuccessfully defended.

"This company has been proven to have been grossly negligent with its asbestos products and is now attempting to pass the buck.

"Why should ratepayers have to fork out their money to pay for James Hardie's negligence.

"Local government will stand up to this company and fight these absurd claims."

Cr Tully called on the new directors of James Hardie to drop its legal action in the Queensland District Court as a sign of good faith that it finally accepts its responsibility to Australia's asbestosis sufferers.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

New Internet scam hits Australia overnight

Another bizarre internet scam has hit Australia overnight.

This one is different from the usual ripoffs in which people are offered untold riches ranging from lottery winnings to deceased estates.

This one demands payment of a non-existent debt from unsuspecting internet users, under threat of legal action.

It even lists PayPal as a means of payment to get the lawyers off your back.
The Australian Government has the legal means to stop these sorts of bogus emails entering Australia.

The government requires ISPs to have filters to stop porn and terrorism but not fraudulent emails which can have a massive financial effect on unsuspecting families.

Be warned - and warn your friends.

This is a copy of the latest scam:

From: rieth, luciano

Subject: Overdue Notice

NDC DEBT COLLECTIONS INC.

ACCT #: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
AMOUNT: 0.00
INTEREST: 0.00
RATE: 0.00
FEES: 0.00
TOTAL DUE: $99.83 (WILL SETTLE FOR THIS AMOUNT)

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE HAVE BEEN RETAINED TO COLLECT THIS DEBT FROM OUR CLIENT.

WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY YOU ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS DELINQUENT ACCOUNT.

WE THOUGHT IT BEST TO STATE OUR INTENTIONS AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE INTEND TO COLLECT THIS DEBT USING ALL AVAILABLE MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL.

UNLESS WE RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM YOU, WE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF LIQUIDATING THIS DEBT VOLUNTARILY.

WE WILL ADVISE OUR CLIENT THAT THEY MAY WISH TO FILE SUIT TO RECOVER THIS DEBT. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF LEGAL ACTION IS UNDERTAKEN, IT COULD BE COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING.

IF ONE SHOULD LOSE IN SUCH AN ACTION, ONE COULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO COURT COSTS AND/OR ATTORNEY FEES, IF APPLICABLE.

THERE ARE VARIOUS AVENUES WHICH COULD BE USED TO SATISFY SUCH A JUDGEMENT.

THIS COULD INCLUDE GARNISHMENT OF WAGES, SEIZURE OF BANK ACCOUNTS OR OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY.

IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO THREATEN YOU BUT TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEMS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REFUSING TO PAY A DEBT.

WE HOPE THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE NECESSARY AND YOU WILL AGREE TO OUR AMICABLE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.

PLEASE: TO ENSURE PROPER CREDIT, REMIT PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACCEPT PAYMENT ON THIS ACCOUNT IN THE FOLLOWING METHOD:

PAYPAL(VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER, OR ECHECK).

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi- bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8140548

THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.

UNLESS YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE THAT YOU DISPUTE THE VALIDITY OF THE DEBT OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, THIS OFFICE WILL ASSUME THIS DEBT IS VALID.

IF YOU NOTIFY THIS OFFICE IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, THIS OFFICE WILL OBTAIN VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND MAIL A COPY TO YOU OF SUCH VERIFICATION.

IF YOU REQUEST IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE, THIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR, IF DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT CREDITOR.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT.

ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED SOLELY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

...........................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Senator Fielding is a dill!

PIC: Senator Steve Fielding

He is taking home a king's ransom each year as a Family First Senator for Victoria.

He was challenged by the media in Canberra today to spell "fiscal" and he came up with "f-i-s-k-a-l".

This wasn't just a simple spelling mistake by Senator Fielding - the hapless senator simply doesn't have a clue about the fundamentals of the Queen's English.

Senator Fielding is regularly voting on important laws and policy issues but today's effort shows he is not up to the task.

Maybe it's time for him to shape up or ship out of the Senate.

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

CMC enquiry is politically-motivated by failed Liberal leader Dr "Do Little" Flegg

TODAY'S PIC: Kenmore Rugby Union and Soccer ovals - the best in the west!

The CMC enquiry into State Government sports funding should dig deeper than a cursory look at the percentage of funding going into Labor electorates.

There is a very logical and rational reason for this - Labor electorates need the funding because of more than 30 years of National-Liberal governments in Queensland which systematically siphoned money into conservative electorates at the expense of Labor electorates.

The current government is simply ensuring that the limited funding is targeted into the areas of most need.

And despite the political protestations of the toffee-nosed Tories of Kenmore, the magnificent ovals and complex adjacent to Cubberla Creek are something the battlers in many parts of Queensland can only dream of.

The Member for Moggill Bruce Flegg seems to have woken from his winter hibernation like a half-euthanised Canadian bear.

But his dreary utterances on this issue are nothing more than a political beat-up by Dr Do Little who should self-diagnose himself into a much-needed permanent political retirement.


PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Gold Coast Council snaps over Snapper Rocks Memorials

PIC: Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast
(Courtesy QTQ Channel 9)

Gold Coast CIty Council must have had a brain implosion when it removed family plaques installed on the beach at Snapper Rocks.

With no community consultation, heartless bureaucrats removed the plaques erected by family members in memory of loved ones lost in the sea.

If local government is supposedly the level of government closest to the people, the Gold Coast City Council makes its supposed concerns for the people look like a cross between democracy in Communist China and Soviet Russia.

Shame, shame, shame!

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Fake email scam warning

A fake email has hit Australia overnight.

This is an outrageous scam offering over 4 million British pounds to unsuspecting claimants.

Be warned and warn your friends.

This is a copy of the latest scam:


From: Arshad Iftikhar, Mr

Subject: Contact me via my private e-mail: accepted.offer@9.cn

Good day,

My name is Mr. Arshad Iftikhar, I work with Euro Lottery here in UK as the operations manager who generate weekly winning numbers.

I wish to offer you an opportunity to become one of our lottery winners with a cash prize of £4,528,000 GBP only if you would agree to give me 35% of your cash prize.

Just as a brief, due to my position in the company I can make it happen that you would be a winner of the above stated amount in our Euro Million Lotto Program.

Naturally, every body would like to play a lottery if they are assured of winning and I am assuring you today, I can make you a winner if you would accept this offer/condition.

I expect you don't take this for granted because this is once in a life time opportunity as we both stand to collectively gain from this at the success of the transaction.

Please contact me immediately through my private email: accepted.offer@9.cn

Regards,


..............................................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

US Court forces Google to name blogger

In a world first, a New York judge has ruled that Google must reveal the name of a blogger who posted defamatory remarks about model Liskula Cohen.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Joan Madden has ordered Google to release the blogger's name to Ms Cohen so she can commence defamation proceedings against the secret writer.

Bloggers and twitterers be warned: The secret society of the internet has abruptly ended with this landmark judgment.

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

International Internet scams are becoming more sophisticated!

Warning to local internet users.

Gold, Gold, Gold.

What could be more-inducing than an offer of untold golden riches.

This scam offers cheap gold dust but is nothing more than complete bull dust.

This scam looks innocent enough with no upfront demand for name, date of birth or bank account details.
But as sure as night follows day, the request for personal information will come later - with disastrous financial consequences for anyone sucked into this scam.

Be warned - trash this scam immediately.

This is a copy of the latest poorly-worded email scam:

From: keita, modibo

Subject: Gold proposal

SOFART GOLD SARL

Dear sir,

My Name Is Mr. Modibo keita A Native Of Sanso Community In Morila-Sikasso Region Of Rep. Of Mali French Speaking West African Country.

I Am a Member of the Said Community and Head of Sales, Marketing, advertising, communication and sourcing agent for our Gold Dust AU. 

Prior To The Latest Privilege Accorded Local Gold Miners In Mali Since April 2007 To Market And Sell Gold Dust Au Themselves, Thus My Offer To All Gold Dust Prospective Buyers Willing To Establish Meaningful Business Transaction That Is Viable And Durable with us.

We Are Trying to Explore the Gold Dust Au International Market Now a days.

Hence, I'm offering you a Fresh Gold Dust AU for Sale with the Following Specifications
   Commodity...................... ...........Aurum Utalium (Au)Form........................... ...............Gold Dust/nugget PowderQuantity....................... ..............120kg and As Per Availability AlwaysQuality/Purity................. ..............22+CaratFiness......................... ................92% or betterLocation....................... ............... MaliOrigin......................... .................MaliPrice per Kg................................$16, 000 USD/KG (Negotiable)  

In Future We Also Wish To Invest The Returns We Have from Gold Dust Au Sales In other Lucrative Businesses, thus, we might seek your advice if possible. 

We welcome all inquiries about details and procedures. 

Accept our Warm Regards,

modibokeitaforgold@gmail.com+223 733 222 01

Mr. Modibo Mali

............................................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Fake email warning as new scam hits Australia

There is a new twist in fake emails hitting Australian computers.

This time the scammers have claimed an association with Google to bolster their bogus £500,000 GBP offer to unsuspecting internet users.

The Australian Government has the power to control the inflow of these sorts of emails into Australia.

If they can legally halt serious pornography and terrorism on the internet, they should be taking action to halt these consumer scams which are financially destroying many unsuspecting Australian families.

Be warned about this latest scam. Warn your family and friends and trash this trash.


This is a copy of the latest email scam which hit Australia overnight:

From: admin@lines.dk

Subject: Google Online Promotions

Dear e-mail user,

Your e-mail has emerged as a winner of £500,000.00 GBP (Five hundred thousand British Pounds) in our on-going Google Promotion.

Your Winning details are as follows: Computer Generated Profile Numbers (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial numbers: BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12).

Contact Mr Graham Benfield, for more details through the contact below:

Mr Graham Benfield,

Email: promo.online.winners@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sherry William.



PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

KFC's 11 Secret Herbs and Spices Cracked!

PIC: KFC secret cracked in Australia.
(Courtesy ACA)

Celebrity Australian chef Peter Russell-Clarke has finally cracked KFC's 50-year old secret recipe of the 11 secret herbs.

Ten of the mysterious ingredients are found in almost every Australian kitchen.

Number 11 is the dreaded MSG, Peter Russell-Clarke says.

According to an official Russell-Clarke taste test, his concoction is exactly the same as the KFC original.

Colonel Harland Sanders would turn in his grave.

Is nothing sacred or secret anymore?

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.

Media Release: Heart patient falls asleep at wheel on busy highway after chemist wrongly dispenses sleeping tablets

Media Release from Queensland Consumer Watch
- Call for State Government crackdown on chemists after near accident on Ipswich Motorway when heart patient wrongly given sleeping tablets -

A state government investigation is underway into an incident on the Ipswich Motorway when a driver fell asleep at the wheel of his car after mistakenly being given sleeping tablets instead of heart tablets by his local chemist.

The Redbank man had been wrongly taking the sleeping tablets for 5 days before the mistake was discovered.

He pulled over at the Goodna exit during the peak hour rush after nodding off on the 100,000 vehicles a day motorway.

The driver later confronted the chemist and has lodged an official complaint with the Pharmacists Board which is investigating the incident.

Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully has called for a crackdown on chemists dispensing wrong prescriptions.

He said the case highlighted the need for chemists to take more care in dealing with the public.

"The average consumer wouldn't know the fancy names being used by pharmaceutical companies and could easily be confused if given the wrong medication.

"This incident could have resulted in a major tragedy on the Ipswich Motorway as a direct result of professional incompetence.

"Pharmacists are university trained professionals who should never get this sort of thing wrong.

"The State Government must act firmly over this potentially-deadly incident to ensure it never happens again," Paul Tully said.

............................................
ORIGINAL EMAIL COMPLAINT:

(Personal details have been omitted by Queensland Consumer Watch.)

Copy of this email addressed to and faxed to:

Pharmacists Board of Queensland at Office of Health Practitioner Registration Board 

To whom it may concern. 

Last week I presented at my local Chemist, (name deleted), and requested Minax (Metoporol) tablets via a script supplied by Dr (name deleted).

I have been taking Minax, one tab twice a day for heart condition. The script was processed by (name deleted), the Chemist owner of the Pharmacy and on my arrival home I removed the bottle from the pharmacy packet and noticed that it was different to normal Minax.

The bottle was the same white plastic with a blue safety-lock lid and the label attached by the Chemist indicated "Metoporol" with Minax shown under but in smaller print and with the instructions to take one tablet twice a day. 

The difference that I noted was that instead of the usual bland Minax original label on the bottle, the original label on this bottle was a bright purple/red label showing 'PROZAM or PRAZAM'.

It was quite noticeable and fortunately not covered over by the Chemists add-on label described above.

I noticed the different label but thought it must have been a generic brand of Minax.  (My usual Avapro blood pressure tables have recently been supplied as Karvea, a generic alternative) and not knowing otherwise I believed that the Prozam was a generic brand of  Minax/Metoporol. And as stated,the Chemists label indicated Metoporol/minax.

I have no qualms about using or being supplied with a generic alternative. 

On the weekend I commenced to use the new bottle as the previous bottle had run out. 

I noted that the tablets in the new bottle were red/orange in colour and I again assumed they were a generic substitute and continued to take one tab morning and night. 

I did not get alarmed for the first few days but felt lethargic and as soon as I relaxed, tried to read the paper or watch TV, my eyes became heavy and I had a feeling of tiredness and nodding off. 

I went to work, Redbank to St. Lucia Mon & Tues and felt very tired and weary, especially driving home and not responding easily to my early morning alarm wake up.

On Wed. I went by train to Wickham Terrace for a periodical ENT Specialist checkup. 

I could barely stay awake on the train both ways and whilst at the Drs waiting room I kept nodding off.  

Throughout that day I felt slightly squeamish in the stomach, but only slight and it did not concern me. 

That Wed. night I fell asleep whilst watching TV, something I have never done before.  I gave thought to the way I had been feeling and believed that I may have been getting a flu/virus or whatever. 

On Thurs 6.8.09 morning I fell asleep again after the alarm and was a good hour late for work and now cannot recall my drive to work. 

Again, lethargic all day and may as well have not been at work.  By the time I got onto the Ipswich Motorway on the drive home I felt very tired and should not have driven and at present with the new work there is nowhere to stop safely.  I turned off into the Goodna egress lane and stopped and walked around the vehicle and pondered my state of well-being.

I decided to check with the Chemist if the 'generic' tablets could be the cause, if not I would see my GP as to whether I had a flue/virus/whatever. 

I got to the Chemist and spoke to (name deleted) and then retrieved the bottle which she identified as sleeping tablets and not Minax. 

She was most apologetic and stated that she did not know how she made such a mistake ALTHOUGH there is a PROMINENT difference in the original labels of Minax and Prozam/Prazam. 

I am now aghast  at the mistake and implications, especially as I had been driving. 

Luckily I deduced that I was not my normal self and sought advice.  Other people or older people could have kept using the tablets until the bottle was empty or an accident/incident occurred. 

I will now not leave a Chemist until I have thoroughly checked or queried every item. 

One puts considerable trust in professionals such as Chemists.  

I now hope that the relevant Authorities could take action to have original labels altered to show what the tablet/medicine is for in simple layman terms.   MINAX with "For heart condition" or "heart treatment" shown under MINAX  and   PROZAM   with "Sleeping tablet" or "Sedative tablet" under or next to PROZAM and etc right across the broad range of drugs/medicines/tablets. 

Not knowing where to start, I have forwarded this information to the various addresses in the hope that the recipients can help towards amending or clarifying such anomalies that could be disastrous and to ensure that Chemists take better care. 

I do not believe that proper care was taken by the Chemist when my script was dispensed. 

If necessary this letter could be shortened to:  Patient believed sleeping tablets dispensed  and labelled by a Chemist for heart condition treatment, to be a generic brand in lieu of the normal heart treatment tablet, until uncharacteristic tiredness  caused the patient to ask questions. 

A simple addition to the label  showing what the medicine is for in simple terms would reduce mistaken use. 

(Name deleted)
Redbank

..........................................

PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

Click "Home" below to see all posts on this website.
If "Home" does not appear, all posts are currently displayed.