A social media giveaway allegedly involving influencer Tammy Hembrow has left dozens of small business owners thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Mum-of-three Hembrow, 30, was claimed to be the face of a new campaign run by ‘ecommerce mentor’ Matt Stevenson and his firm ‘Influencer Giveaways’ earlier in the year.
It offered dozens of small business owners the chance to gain up to 16,000 followers by paying $1,200 to have their profiles boosted in an unspecified social media giveaway involving the fitness influencer and her 17 million followers in March of this year. anus.
Hembrow previously participated in a similar successful scheme with Mr Stevenson, in which participants entered a lottery to win a free Mercedes Benz.
But despite attracting companies with the promise of Hembrow’s participation in a new drawing, six months later the companies that signed up say the promotion never materialized.
Hembrow’s representatives have also tried to distance her from the new company.
Max Connecters, the influential PR firm representing Hembrow, said it is “in no way affiliated with or aware of any gifts with Matt Stevenson,” according to an email seen by Daily Mail Australia.
However, several business owners who participated in the campaign They say they haven’t seen any return on their investment, andhHundreds of emails, messages and calls to Mr Stevenson demanding answers or his money back have gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, they’ve had to watch as Stevenson shows off his luxury lifestyle online with his influencer wife Shanice and their young children.
Tammy Hembrow previously participated in a similar scheme with Matt Stevenson in which participants entered a lottery to win a free Mercedes Benz (pictured together) and featured prominently in promotional material for Mr Stevenson’s current scheme.
Marketing specialist Brontë Godschalk, who entered the current draw because she wanted to promote her chocolate brownie brand, said she had heard “nothing but radio silence” from Mr Stevenson and accused him of carrying out a “plan unscrupulous.”
“He blocked several victims on social media and ignored countless emails and legal correspondence,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“Many companies have been left stagnant, with no way to recover their investments or hold them accountable.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Stevenson for comment.
The Influencer Giveaways website has been removed.
Several business owners said they had done previous giveaways with Mr. Stevenson that had been successful.
In March of last year he directed one with Hembrow, who promised participants the opportunity to win a free Mercedes Benz A-Class Sedan automobile valued at approximately $75,000.
The mother-of-three featured prominently in promotional material for Mr Stevenson’s current scheme, which was due to launch in March (pictured).
However, Hembrow’s representatives have tried to distance themselves from this completely. In an email obtained by this publication, Max Connecters, the influential public relations firm that represents Hembrow, said that she “is not affiliated in any way with, nor is she aware of, any gifts with Matt Stevenson.”
The giveaway was funded by an offer to small business owners to increase their social media following by up to 15,000, plus access to marketing emails, in exchange for $1,200.
Hembrow was featured heavily in promotions for the plan, including in a video shared with her 17.3 million followers.
“This is the greatest gift I’ve ever given,” she said as she sat on the hood of the car in a figure-hugging black dress.
‘I have partnered with Influencer Giveaways. We are giving one of you the chance to win this beautiful Mercedes Benz.
‘All you have to do is share this post, go to Influencer Giveaways, follow everyone who follows and then come back here and tag a friend. Good luck!’
In another video, Stevenson described it as “the most hyped gift of all time.”
This, several business owners claimed, gave an “aspect of legitimacy” to the most recent collaboration.
This image was reinforced by Stevenson’s influential wife, who has almost 26,000 followers and regularly documents their luxurious life together.
Clare Houghton, who was hoping to boost the profile of her clothing brands and her sustainable shoe wipe company, said these posts were irritating.
“It’s obviously infuriating when I see him go out on a Tuesday night and buy an $80 steak and post it on social media,” he said.
“And his wife bragging that she’s asking for a $12 Cartier bracelet for her birthday is obviously annoying because it seems like she’s doing it with other people’s money.”
“These giveaways typically attract about 70 backers, so it’s entirely possible that you have more than $100,000 of other people’s money.”
Clare Houghton (pictured), who was hoping to raise the profile of her clothing brands and sustainable shoe cleaning business, suggested Stevenson could have up to $100,000 of other people’s money available to her.
Stevenson ran a successful promotion with Hembrow in March of last year that promised participants the chance to win a free Mercedes Benz A-Class sedan worth an estimated $75,000.
Several business owners are considering legal action in an attempt to recover their money.
Another “sponsor”, Tenae Adamcic, said he had contacted the police about Mr Stevenson’s actions, but they were unable to help.
“Fair Trading couldn’t do anything about it either,” he added.
‘Basically we are left to take legal action, which will obviously cause us to lose more money out of our pockets.
“But of course, if you declare bankruptcy, then there will be no option to get our money back.”
In emails, seen by Daily Mail Australia, Stevenson told those involved that more than 40 “sponsors” have not paid their invoices.
It also claims to apply a “no refund” policy.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hembrow and Max Connectors for further comment.