Profitnet is a scam

[sue lewis]

I represent the members of Profitnet in South Africa. Profitnet is a fraudulent business network set up by Shaun Gannon of CENTIM, Brighton University under the directorship of professor Robert Taylor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

We were enticed into joining the programme on the basis of may promises - partnerships with UK companies, opening of trade relations between UK and SA members, expert speakers to come and give us training at meetings.......NONE of that happened. They also lied to us at the beginning about the wonderful successes they had in many other countries - all lies and then grossly exaggerated the results of the South African programme in order to secure more money. They were given 60 000 GBP by the British Council to run Profitnet in South Africa, a third of which was supposed to be for the development of our group of members. We did not see the benefit of one penny of that money. We neither heard from nor saw Shaun Gannon and Rob Taylor came to ONE of our meetings, made many promises and then we never heard from him nor saw him again. None of the facilitators ever received the salaries they were owed and neither did the project manager who co-ordinated the groups on behalf of Taylor and Gannon. Rob Taylor also stole over 1000GBPs worth of receipts for expenses incurred in running the meetings. These men are frauds and thieves and should be in prison.

We are posting this to warn all businesses out there, throughout the world, not to fall for this scam. Profitnet is a con. They are now trying to sell "licences" to run the programme. Don't fall for it. They will take your money and get NOTHING in return

What Sue Lewis says is true. I wasted a lot of time and effort on Profitnet for two years and the directors didn't give a dam about us. Rob Taylor from UKZN is a thief and a complete waste of the earth's oxygen and Shaun Gannon of Brighton university is a conniving little fraud. They took the money and we never saw them or heard from them again.

Rob Taylor and Shaun Gannon used Profitnet to get fake data from us, saying what a huge success the programme was. They falsified the results - left out all the feedback from people who had any criticisms - and selected only the positive comments to publish. Once they had their fake data they just disappeared - no word or sight of Shaun Gannon. He visited his parents in South Africa several times using Profitnet money but he never came anywhere near us. Absolutely nothing. Rob Taylor promised us the world, delivered nothing, never paid the staff and stole the receipts for the running costs for himself - probably claimed he had incurred the expenses himself and paid himself the money.

These two slimeballs belong in prison and the two universities should be ashamed of themselves. They are as guilty of fraud as Rob taylor and Shaun Gannon.

AND lets not 4get the fake "certificates" we got @ "grad". A year long program and we "graduated" half way thru. What a joke!

and shaun didn't even bother 2 come 2 that, just vanished after he got our info

and there were a hole bunch of people who got certs who had hardly ever come to any meetings.

Originally Posted by ditto oh!

AND lets not 4get the fake "certificates" we got @ "grad". A year long program and we "graduated" half way thru. What a joke!

and shaun didn't even bother 2 come 2 that, just vanished after he got our info

and there were a hole bunch of people who got certs who had hardly ever come to any meetings.

I think you mean whole, not hole. But maybe that's a freudian slip!

remeber when taylor came to our group last year? Had to bring his buddy with him because he was too scared to see us on his own. never opened his mouth and he got his buddy to do all the talking. and they guy was clueless about the whole thing and gave us that boring lecture on "what is marketing" or some kiddies stuff. like we've never heard of it before. 20 people in the advanced business group with over 100 years of experience between us and he thinks its some amazing new revelation for us

taylor had no clue at all who were were or what we did. didn't even know our names. that's why all those people graduated who never came to meetings. he had no idea who to invite or who had been involved in which group or anything.

It is about time someone told the true story, well done sue lewis.

What about the Greek guy that came from UK and had an affair with the facilitator, sorry i can't remember their names. I think his name was George, he was supposed to interview us but never pitched as was he getting a bit of nookie on the side.

Right bunch of professionals they are.

That guy Taylor gutless wanker who managed to get his fingers in the cookie jar, i wonder what has happened to all that money that he promised us to develop this successful program.

Interesting that there are now all these so called network groups setting up all over town, and changing the way they do things to the model we created and changed to suit our needs. Interesting that PN in PMB didn't work until the model was changed. So much for the brains from Centrum. I wonder if the people in the UK know that Profitnet is a huge CON.

I almost forgot about that mommies boy Shaun, interesting how convenient it has been for him to visit mommy and daddy on PN funds.

[sue lewis]

At the beginning of the year we complained to the British Council and sent an email to all the recipients of the British Council's Africa newsletter.

We protested strongly protest about the inclusion of Shaun Gannon and Rob Taylor as speakers at the British Council's's Going Global 4 conference in February 2010. The two frauds were due to present on the successes of Profitnet in South Africa in 2009 - when they hadn't been involved at all or anywhere near us during the year! Complete lies to be presented with baldfaced cheek at a top international conference!!

I forwarded that email of protest to the Vice Chancellor of Brighton University - head honcho. He took ages to reply via some secretary. Didin't even have the professionalism to reply himself. I was assured that a "high level investigation" would be conducted regarding our complaint.

WEEKS went by and I got a VERY brief, pompous and dismissive message from some guy called Colin Monk which said Shaun Gannon was "waiting for better information" from UKZN. The moron Colin Monk couldn't even get the email address right - had to send it via the website. Well, Gannon has ALL the information there is since HE was the one pulling Rob Taylor's puppet strings behind the scene! I replied to Colin Monk and asked if there was anything else we could help him with since Shaun Gannon seems to be witholding all the documents.

I never heard from Colin Monk or Profitnet directors again and have had no response from anyone at Brighton University.

Brighton University: in actively avoiding to respond in a meaningful way to the victims of the ProfitNet directors' illegal activities or to investigate the case properly YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THEIR FRAUD AND YOU ARE CLEARLY RUBBER-STAMPING THEIR LIES, THEFT AND CORRUPTION

Brighton University is supposed to be a reputable institution but it is no better than the mafia in the way it conducts business. It should be held accountable by the British Government and British Taxpayers.

[sue lewis]

And the people from UKZN and the British Council have never bothered to contact me, any of the facilitators or any of the members. The BC said they would contact the facilitators to verify the events but never did. UKZN were given all their contact details and correspondence but never followed up.

Just seem to have believed the lies that Rob Taylor and Shaun Gannon told about what went on - or rather didn't go on - in Profitnet last year. And they seem quite happy that Gannon and Taylor stole the money.

Don't these institutions get audited?

Originally Posted by guest

It is about time someone told the true story, well done sue lewis.

What about the Greek guy that came from UK and had an affair with the facilitator, sorry i can't remember their names. I think his name was George, he was supposed to interview us but never pitched as was he getting a bit of nookie on the side.

Right bunch of professionals they are.

That guy Taylor gutless wanker who managed to get his fingers in the cookie jar, i wonder what has happened to all that money that he promised us to develop this successful program.

Interesting that there are now all these so called network groups setting up all over town, and changing the way they do things to the model we created and changed to suit our needs. Interesting that PN in PMB didn't work until the model was changed. So much for the brains from Centrum. I wonder if the people in the UK know that Profitnet is a huge CON.

I almost forgot about that mommies boy Shaun, interesting how convenient it has been for him to visit mommy and daddy on PN funds.

George "Secure your *** coz he's standing behind you" Tsekouras and TG-M?
No wonder he was looking so happy at my interview.

And my info never made it into the "results". All sorts of comments quoted from other people but mine werent there.
They don't take criticism well do they?

I had a meeting today with Mr. Peter Korte. He assured me that the university does take his matter seriously and it will be investigated further. He also told me that he will request a formal audit regarding the matters raised. I have been asked to prepare a formal statement and I will be asking the facilitators and some of the members from 2009 to make formal statements as well. I will append all the documentation that supports the grievances to my statement for their perusal. I will copy the statement to all members for comment and additional comment. Please would those of you who do get approached for interviews and statements cooperate and tell Mr. Korte the facts of your experiences in ProfitNet in 2008 and 2009.

I am asking the members now not to post any further comments on this website while the investigation is in progress. We do not want to 'muddy the waters' while it is ongoing and I do believe that, this time, a thorough investigation will be conducted. We can regroup next month before I leave the university to discuss the way forward.

Vasbyt! Justice will be done eventually.

All the best,
Clare