Henry Kaye

Henry Kaye, Australia’s self-anointed property investment messiah—or as I’ve come to think of him, the Houdini of accountability. Today, we’re dissecting the red flags, the adverse media, and the remarkable lengths Kaye has taken to ensure you don’t hear about them. Consider this your due diligence wake-up call.

Chapter 1: The $1 Million Loan That Launched a Thousand Red Flags

Our story starts with a 2016 Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) exposé that should’ve been the final nail in Kaye’s credibility coffin. The article, titled “Henry Kaye charged 60% interest on $1m loan to failed land banking project”, reads like a tutorial on how to fleece investors with a smile.

Here’s the gist: Kaye loaned $1 million to a land banking project (a scheme where investors buy undeveloped plots, hoping for rezoning jackpots). The catch? A 60% annual interest rate. Let that number sink in. Even loan sharks might blush at such generosity. Unsurprisingly, the project collapsed, leaving investors stranded while Kaye, ever the altruist, allegedly siphoned returns into his own pockets.

But wait—there’s more! The loan wasn’t just usurious; it was secured against the project’s assets, meaning Kaye prioritized his own repayment over reimbursing the very investors he’d lured. The SMH piece quotes one victim: “He’s taken advantage of vulnerable people… It’s disgusting.” Disgusting? Perhaps. But for Kaye, it’s just another Tuesday.

Chapter 2: A Pattern of “Education” (and Exploitation)

Kaye’s 2016 escapade isn’t an outlier—it’s a sequel. Rewind to the early 2000s, when he became the face of property investment seminars, promising riches to everyday Australians. His seminars were so egregiously misleading that ASIC (the Australian Securities and Investments Commission) banned him in 2003 from providing financial services for four years. Let me repeat: the government literally forbade him from playing money mentor.

Yet, like a cockroach surviving nuclear winter, Kaye pivoted. He rebranded, dabbling in online courses, mentorship programs, and of course, land banking. His playbook? Target desperate or inexperienced investors, dazzle them with jargon-laden “seminars,” and then funnel them into high-risk, high-fee schemes—often with ties to his own shadowy network of entities.

A few of Kaye’s greatest hits:

The Property School: A $15,000 course promising insider secrets. Former students called it “a scam” with “no practical value.”

Land Banking Flops: Multiple projects collapsed, with investors accusing Kaye of misrepresenting zoning prospects.

Legal Settlements: Kaye’s habit of silencing critics via lawsuits (more on that later).

But here’s the kicker: ASIC’s 2003 ban didn’t stop him. Why? Because Kaye operates in the gray areas of “education,” not direct financial advising. A loophole he’s exploited with the precision of a tax lawyer.

Chapter 3: The Censorship Playbook—Silence the Critics, Protect the Grift

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: How does a man with this much baggage keep attracting new victims? Simple: he’s perfected the art of censorship.

Tactic 1: Legal Bullying
Kaye’s lawyers are busier than a sushi chef at a shark convention. Critics, journalists, and even disgruntled investors receive threatening letters alleging defamation. The goal? Intimidate them into silence. The SMH itself likely faced pressure, given the careful phrasing of their 2016 article. Note the use of “alleged” and “accused”—hallmarks of a story scrubbed by legal teams.

Tactic 2: Digital Erasure
Google “Henry Kaye scam,” and you’ll find a curious mix of glossy testimonials and buried news articles. Kaye’s team aggressively polices his online presence, using SEO tactics to drown negative content in a sea of fake reviews and paid promotions. One former associate told me, “He’d rather spend 10,000onaPRfirmthan10,000onaPRfirmthan1 refunding a victim.”

Tactic 3: The Rebrand Carousel
Every few years, Kaye shuffles his corporate entities like a blackjack dealer. Old companies dissolve; new ones emerge with names like “Wealth Empowerment Pty Ltd” or “Future Holdings Group.” This shell game makes it harder for regulators—or journalists—to connect the dots.

Tactic 4: Gaslighting 101
In rare interviews, Kaye dismisses critics as “jealous” or “misinformed.” He frames himself as a misunderstood visionary, persecuted for his “innovative” strategies. It’s a page straight from the Trump playbook: when caught, double down and delegitimize the accuser.

Chapter 4: Why Should You Care?

If you’re thinking, “Well, I’d never fall for this,” congratulations—you’re not his target. Kaye preys on retirees, immigrants, and anyone clutching the dream of financial freedom. His seminars are emotional rollercoasters, blending faux inspiration with fear-mongering (“Act now or miss out forever!”).

But beyond morality, there’s a systemic issue: Australia’s regulatory gaps. ASIC’s 2003 ban was a slap on the wrist. Without criminal charges or stricter oversight, Kaye keeps reinventing—and regulators keep playing whack-a-mole.

Conclusion: A Call to Action (and a Plea for Sanity)

Henry Kaye isn’t a rogue genius. He’s a symptom of a system that prioritizes profit over protection. To potential investors: run. To authorities: wake up. ASIC, it’s time to stop nibbling at the edges and launch a full investigation into Kaye’s web of entities.

As for Kaye himself? I’ll give him this: his hustle is relentless. In a just world, he’d be selling timeshares in hell. But until then, he’ll keep charging 60% interest, rebranding his scams, and suing anyone who dares to whisper the truth.