DG Institute ordered to pay nearly $20m for false or misleading representations about two courses

A self-described property and wealth guru has been slapped with a huge fine and ordered to repay more than 2000 participants in her seminars.

Self-described wealth guru Dominique Grubisa and her investment institute have been slapped with $6m in fines and ordered to repay students of one of its programs nearly $15m in fees.

The Federal Court has ordered Master Wealth Control Pty Ltd (DG Institute) to pay $5m for false or misleading representations to consumers in the promotion and sale of two education programs, Real Estate Rescue (RER) and Master Wealth Control (MWC).

The institute has also been ordered to repay $14.7m in course fees to more than 2100 students enrolled in the MWC program between April 2017 and November 2022.

DG Institute sole director Dominique Grubisa has been disqualified from managing corporations for five years for being “knowingly concerned in the contraventions” of the company. She has been ordered to pay an additional $1m in penalties.

Dominique Grubisa has been disqualified from managing corporations for five years. Picture: Supplied

The Federal Court in April this year found the company had made false or misleading representations to consumers.

MWC students had been wrongly told they could protect their assets from creditors by setting up a specific trust using transaction documents provided by the institute.

The so-called Vestey Trust had been promoted as having been tested and upheld as effective by the Full Court of the Federal Court when it had not been.

In addition, students were given advice on how to assist distressed homeowners to sell their property and keep some of the equity.

Ms Grubisa claimed students were helping distressed homeowners by purchasing properties for less than what they were worth, claiming that if the bank repossessed the property the owner would not receive any equity and also miss out on more money.

Students paid between $4500 and $9200 to enrol in programs promoted in free seminars in-person, on free online webinars and on videos with Ms Grubisa on the company’s website between 2017 and 2022.

She has been ordered to personally pay $1m in penalties.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commissioner Liza Carver said the orders “underscore the importance” for businesses and company directors to ensure statements made to consumers were “accurate and not misleading”.

“The substantial consumer redress orders, the penalties imposed and the five-year disqualification order against Ms Grubisa reflect the serious nature of the conduct and clearly demonstrate the consequences of making false claims when promoting goods or services to consumers,” she said.

The court has ordered injunctions preventing DG Institute, its officers and Ms Grubisa from making “similar or the same representations” for five years.

The company is also required to contact consumers who might be eligible for redress and to post information about the redress scheme on its website and Facebook pages.

DG Institute also needs to pay the ACCC for the costs of the proceedings, which is “carefully considering the court’s judgment”.

DG institute and Ms Grubisa have launched an appeal against the decision.

“Master Wealth Control acknowledges the recent Federal Court judgment concerning our asset protection product. We respectfully disagree with the court’s findings and we have already appealed the decision,” a statement read.

“We intend to seek a stay of the court’s orders pending the outcome of the appeal. We will continue supporting and servicing our clients. We have no further comments at this stage.”