Peter Foster: Serial conman’s used video to snare punting scheme victims
Serial conman Peter Foster used an elaborate punting video to lure big spenders into his trap. The professional production was used to snare victims, with one man allegedly losing $1.4 million. WATCH THE VIDEO
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FOOTAGE has emerged of one of the elaborate, big-spending traps allegedly created by international conman Peter Foster.
Foster was arrested near Port Douglas in Queensland last week and charged with swindling investors in his Sport Predictions business, which it is alleged was a punting scam in which no bets were ever placed.
A highly professional video was allegedly enough to ensnare many affluent victims, including one overseas visitor who flew to Melbourne for this year’s Australian Open only to lose $1.4 million to Foster.
The promotional tool features a polished English presenter standing in front of what looks like a high-budget set, complete with screens of sports action and an updates crawl bar.
He proceeds to take the viewer through the kind of extraordinary promises which might have rung alarm bells with even the most rabid gambler.
The presenter says he wants to tell everyone about an emerging industry experiencing a boom “greater than anything the world has ever seen”.
“One that is more transparent than the share market, more reliable than real estate, more predictable than speculating on gold and foreign currencies and is now the most profitable form of e-commerce in the world today.
“You will learn about the hundreds of millions of dollars, pounds, euros, yuen and yen that are being made every day from other people’s mistakes.”
Despite some of its more astronomical claims, the video is suspected of being a key element in bringing victims to Foster.
Investigators say the only thing reliable and predictable was that those who pumped in money would see no return.
Private investigator Ken Gamble, who has pursued Foster on behalf of victims for years, said the kind of investment required to set up the Sport Prediction video was a hallmark of the shyster.
Mr Gamble said he was prepared to spend big to create an illusion, as he did by hiring a model to escort the Australian Open victim from Melbourne Airport to the city in a limousine.
mark.buttler@news.com.au
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