Office of Liquor and Gaming to investigate Hello Lifestyle Australia after prize car repossessed

A Queensland-based giveaway company is being investigated by the state’s gambling regulator after a woman who won a car had the vehicle abruptly repossessed.

The Widebody Y62 Nissan Patrol was later repossessed.

A Queensland-based giveaway company is being investigated by the state’s gambling regulator after a woman who won a car had the vehicle abruptly repossessed.

The company, Hello Lifestyle Australia, has gone quiet online by shutting down its website and most of its social media channels — though it remains registered as a company.

The incident has also prompted Australia’s consumer watchdog to warn businesses they cannot make false or misleading representations “in relation to any gifts or prizes they offer”.

Amelia Conway, a 22-year-old hairdresser from Colac in Victoria, won a $100,000 4WD in July 2022 through an online raffle organised by Hello Lifestyle Australia.

Ms Conway and her sister were flown to Queensland by the company to get the car, and they drove it back to Victoria.

But when she attempted to transfer the vehicle into her name and get it registered in Victorian, it turned out the car was still under finance. It was repossessed on February 1.

Amelia Conway won a Widebody Y62 Nissan Patrol in an online giveaway but it was later repossessed.

Hello Lifestyle Australia is one of many companies that have appeared in recent times offering big prize giveaways for people who buy memberships.

But “promotional games” don’t need a licence or permit, unlike other raffles or lotteries run by not-for-profit or clubs which are subject to stringent rules.

A spokeswoman for the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation confirmed it was aware of the incident involving the car being repossessed and that an investigation was underway.

Victoria Police is also investigating, but no action has been taken against any individuals.

Hello Lifestyle Australia is registered to an accountancy business in Brisbane’s Bowen Hills.

The Courier-Mail contacted the business but received no response.

Social media videos by Hello Lifestyle Australia included references to a luxury car import and fit-out business, which also did not respond to queries.

Hello Lifestyle advertised itself as “proudly supporting” the Christian youth charity Red Frogs via regular giveaways of customised four-wheel drives, Ducati motorcycles and overseas holidays.

Red Frogs’ chief operational officer Steve Davies confirmed, in an ABC article, that Hello Lifestyle Australia had hoped to donate $150,000 but ended up only receiving a small amount.

Ms Conway’s ordeal stripped her of her dream car and left her about $1000 out of pocket due to on-road costs.

“It’s not fair on myself or anyone else that has won anything through this company. It’s just heartbreaking,” she said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, in a statement, said businesses cannot make “false or misleading representations in relation to any gifts or prizes they offer”.

“If a consumer wins a high-value prize such as a car, they should make sure that the lottery organiser provides them with the legal paperwork to accompany that prize.”