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!