Dating website 'misled' singles'

redhotpie.com.au

DIRECTORS of a dating website engaged in misleading conduct when they created fake profiles and sent messages to users to flirt with them, a consumer watchdog says.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has started Federal Court proceedings against Jetplace Pty Ltd - the operator of the website www.redhotpie.com.au.

The consumer watchdog alleged Jetplace engaged in misleading conduct when it created and published fictional dating profiles on its website, which targets single adults.

Jetplace allegedly used the fake profiles to send "flirt" and other messages to registered users.

The company engaged in misleading conduct by giving representations that each profile on the website was created by registered members, the watchdog said.

It said the company had misled people when it said every profile on the website and every message received from a profile provided an opportunity for members to socialise with and potentially meet the member that sent the message, when that was not the case.

The ACCC has alleged Jetplace directors Mark Semaan and Maxwell James McGuire, were knowingly concerned in and party to the misleading conduct.

The watchdog said it would seek declarations, injunctions, orders and costs from Jetplace.

A directions hearing on the matter has been set down for December in the Federal Court.