Two former Queenstown residents are under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading in Queensland, for making "false and misleading claims about its services and staff credentials".
Fair Trading commissioner David Ford warned consumers against dealing with Fenwick Actors Models Pty Ltd, a talent management company, and its operators Courtnie Thomas, also known as Courtney Elice, and her mother Cassandra Thomas, also known as Sandi Alexander.
The women were convicted of fraud in the Queenstown District Court in 2010. Elice had checked into hotels in Queenstown and Christchurch under false names, and had also racked up more than $2000 in bills.
Alexander was convicted of using false documents.
Both women allegedly breached their sentences of community work on July 12, 2010.
They also faced complaints about their talent agency - Tabitha Talent Management - from clients in Australia, Christchurch and Nelson in 2009.
In October 2010, Alexander was prosecuted by the OFT and fined $2500 for failing to provide information during the investigation of her business.
Yesterday, Mr Ford said the Office of Fair Trading had received six complaints from customers of Fenwick Actor Models and a former employee about the business' practices.
"Four of those complaints were about a workshop Fenwick Actors Models promoted that they claimed would involve sessions with two high-profile casting agents, including auditions.
"Following their suspicions ... consumers contacted the casting agents, who advised they had no affiliation with Fenwick and were not scheduled to take part in the workshop.
"The consumers were refused refunds." Mr Ford said under Australian Consumer Law it was illegal for a business to claim affiliation or approval it does not have or to accept payments for goods or services it cannot not deliver.
