I was introduced to Christopher Smith through a family friend. Christopher Bruce Smith was apparantly raising some funds for our friend to purchase a Brisbane commercial property.
It was at the offices of Odyssey Consulting Services that I met Mr. Christopher Smith. Mr. Smith introduced me to various investments and projects that he was involved or planning to get involved in which he required other people to "front". He informed me of a project site which I could purchase known as the "Riverside Development Site & Riviera Motel Site" for a purchase price of AUD$8 Million.
He proposed that we establish a Holding Company that owns the shares in another "Shelf Company" that will execute the purchase of the property. He proposed that the Shelf Company puts a AUD$5,000.00 deposit on the property wth a 60 day due diligence period after which we would enter into a unconditional contract to purchase the land in 30 days. During the initial 60 day due diligence period Smith and Odyssey will find shareholders to commit up to AUD$45 Million through the "secondary market", which according to Smith, allows companies to find shareholders without the need for a prospectus. I would then retain a 60% shareholding in the new company which would then undertake the apartment project.
At this meeting he informed me that all I would need to invest was "around AUD$50,000.00" I left and said I would think about it.
Mr. Smith was indeed a very convincing and smooth talker. Some few days after the initial meeting we met again and I agreed to "Invest" in the project and we establish 3 separate companies to perform the transaction
I signed a Non Disclosure agreement between Odyssey Consulting which was countersigned by Garry Howes. I gave Mr. Smith AUD$9,000.00 Cash for the corporate structure and Deposit. Mr. Smith had Garry Howes sign and give me a receipt for the cash.
Following this initial transaction over the next 3 Months I was to part with more than AUD$90,000.00 to Mr. Smith.
After some time we apeared to be making little progress. So I went to see Smith at his offices however he was never reachable.
I lodged a complaint with Police who did nothing about it despite Smith being on charges, which he pleaded guilty to, and was jailed, of defrauding a pensioner of AUD$116,000.00
Anon
Main Beach QLD
Australia
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