Since launching on February 5, 2011,
we have survived death threats, beaten hackers, won law suits against
us, exposed dozens of scammers, and managed to recover vast funds for
victims.
Serene
Industries Ltd. (SIL) Christopher James Woodward, and Jeff Ong
(Wong)
THESE TWO FRAUDSTERS and a shonky
heater business
Demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in advance
Promising 10 Year product warranties
Rubbish, high failure, non-compliant products
Zero warranty support – because they claim the business has never existed!
They blame their product failures on an
infiltration by cyber criminals from eastern Europe.
Christopher Woodward, CEO and fraudster
Jeff
Ong,
equally culpable co-conspirator
Latest update, February 2024;
SERENE IS NOW FINISHED, CLOSED – Finally the music stopped for Woodward and
Ong, their fraudulent narrative has finally ran out.
THE NEW ZEALAND SAFETY REGULATOR has issued the first prohibition order for
Serene fan heaters. More prohibitions for other Serene heater models are very
likely to follow.
In late December 2023 Woodward published a message
still on the Serene website confirming that Serene Industries has closed.
This follows Woodward’s grand announcement to the market only 6 weeks prior
that he has sold Serene to a large New Zealand electrical manufacturer.
From February 2024 the New Zealand Safety Regulator (Worksafe New Zealand) is
swinging a wrecking ball through Serene Industries.
WorksafeNZ have issued a prohibition order for the S2069 fan heater, and the
S2068 and S207T model have also been flagged. These are exactly the same
heaters as the models flagged in the first safety reports to the Regulator
filed in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Note that this order is a prohibition, not just a recall notice. A
prohibition prevents these heaters ever being made/sold again.
Finally, inevitably, ironically….but unsurprisingly;
The tide has turned and the pendulum has swung hard the other way. All of
the safety concerns that were raised via independent technical reports filed
with the Safety Regulator as far back as 2017, 7 years ago, have been uncovered
and reconciled to the current long list of ongoing Serene safety incidents
recorded in New Zealand.
After 7 years all of Woodward and Ong’s lies, deceit and fraudulent
explanations to the market is at an end. The industry can now be cleaned up of
their dangerous, illegal, unsupported rubbish, whilst the Serene brand is
consigned to the scrap heap.
Ironically per Woodward’s fraudulent remarks, denials and threats of
corruption including being shut down per below - the only ones that ended up
being shut down by the Government….is Woodward and Ong.
LINKS
1. Worksafe prohibition order https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-media/unsafe-serene-classic-s2068-wall-mounted-bathroom-heaters-prohibited/
2. The same notice gazetted in NZ Govt archives. https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-au527
Statement
from Woodwards largest investor and known victim.
Christopher Woodward
(depicted) is the principal behind this web of lies and deception as
investigated by Wikifrauds, et el.
The deceit by this one individual is disgraceful and knows absolutely no
bounds, even in the face of obvious cause and liability, where he is only ever
concerned for himself. The fullness of this investigation reveals that
Woodward’s involvement in this industry as far back as the 1980s is largely
just a trail of wreckage that has cost everyone that he encounters bitterly,
from sole traders, to SMEs, to multinational corporations.
With Serene, Woodward convinces licensee investors that his business is a
successful tier one global operator in the electrical heating appliance
industry. In reality, he only costs customers their money with shonky/dangerous
products, as well as good business operators their investment and reputations,
whilst he destroys both the careers and health of experienced managers.
He dismisses all product failures as well as rejecting the warranty claims that
inevitably follow.
He deliberately manipulates and/or ignores electrical safety regulations and
the regulators.
He blames everyone else for the massive product quality and safety shortcomings
in his products, as well the numerous safety and fire incidents recorded.
He even dismisses these Wikifrauds images as not him, even though they were
lifted straight from the Serene Industries website.
Woodward simply does not belong in the appliance industry, and because of his
propensity for fraud he should be banned from running any business.
Commercially, society will be a better place when Woodward is no longer in it
and considering the number of people that he has ruined over the years, there
are many that are astounded he is not locked up.
In New Zealand it is primarily the safety regulator that allows Serene to
continue to fully operate there, where Woodward has for years knowingly
promoted electrically unsafe and technically non-compliant products.
It is my hope that through a change of senior management within the New Zealand
regulator, that we see these dangerous Serene products finally taken off
shelves and Woodward shut down in New Zealand, just as he was reported on and
shut down in Australia years ago.
LATEST,
Jan 2023: THESE TWO NOW RANK WITH NIGERIAN
SCAMMERS!
Denying warranty claims by communicating using a
deceased persons email.
Claiming these Serene website images are not them.
Claiming this story is published only because a $1 Million demand was not paid.
LATEST, August 2022:
Woodward is sabre rattling again. He is now telling people "Wikifrauds are about to be
prosecuted for corruption and closed down by the new AU government we
understand". What utter rubbish !!
Attack being the supposed best form of defense, and since he and his company
are in an indefensible position, he has again resorted to telling outright
lies. And this statement by Woodward shows his ignorance of the political and
executive form of government in Australia.
Well Mr Woodward, if you are reading these comments, please go ahead and take
legal action against us.
But remember, there's no defamation in truth - you will not win!
In 2020 WIKIFRAUDS commenced investigating the Australian operations of
Serene Industries Ltd, as a result of numerous customer complaints received
relating to Serene product warranty claims being declined.
WIKIFRAUDS investigations are compiled from numerous conversations with people
who have been associated with Woodward as well as sighting the multitude of
email communications sent and received by both Woodward and Jeff Ong (Wong)
concerning their Australian business since as early as 2015. There is enough
material to fill a room.
THE
FRAUD, LIES & DECEIT orchestrated by Woodward / Wong
– this is their deceit / shonky business in numbers;
Dozens of individual
fraudulent customer warranty claim denials across Australia – the
most prolific responses from Serene are enclosed.
1x Inadvertent offer of full customer support – that clearly demonstrates that
these two men know they have obligations to customers.
5x Attempts to communicate with customers through either a deceased
sales managers email, or Serene personnel names/emails that don’t even exist.
30 plus official denials by
Woodward since 2020 that Serene never even existed when the products were sold
in Australia – when actually the business had been fully operating there since
2014.
AUD $250,000 - The losses across hundreds of customers and resellers in
Australia that have been left stranded and out of pocket with poor quality and
failed Serene product, all with zero support.
AUD $1.6 Million – The losses that have been forced onto one individual who was
the principal Serene Australia licensee and importer who was invited by and
signed up by Woodward in 2015. These losses are as a direct result of
Woodward’s shonky Serene products with zero warranty / product support from
Serene Industries Ltd.
1x Global insurer who deemed Woodward and his total Serene business and
products to be completely uninsurable.
6x Senior managers in Australia and New Zealand that have walked out on
Woodward since 2017.
50+ False claims and statements made internally to managers by
Woodward, about the quality and safety certification status of Serene products.
3x Woodward
claiming that any Serene Australia business was actually just a rouge internet
trader purporting to be an official Serene reseller.
8x Woodward has been formally cautioned by his Australian / New Zealand
managers since 2017 - take some responsibility or this will blow up publicly.
6x Separate attempts at the business Serene Australia between 2012 – 2022. All
have universally ended in disaster because of shonky products and zero support.
6x Formal investigations triggered into Serene / Woodward in Australia and New
Zealand;
- the Safety
Regulator(s) - ACCC - CHOICE
Consumer - NSW Small
Claims - Wikifrauds.
WARNING
To anyone who is considering participating in any business, investment or
financial exposure with Christopher J. Woodward and Serene Industries Ltd,
including any other business that he is connected.
Simple recommendation is DON’T !
Serene Australia are actually just one occurrence in an otherwise long line of
people and businesses that Woodward has forced over the years into incurring
massive, terminal category financial and reputational losses.
Since the 1980s there are few, if any, known examples of a Woodward partnership
or alliance that has not met a bitter and costly end.
Next to death and taxes, Woodward is one of the few certainties in life – you
will get burnt - his antics will most certainly cost your money, your
reputation, and a good chance your health…..and that is when you get off
lightly.
History has now recorded a long line of instances of Woodward’s antics
completely ruining people’s businesses and lives.
The only certainly with Christopher J. Woodward, is that he excels at being a
master of manipulation and deceit, while being a man of less than zero
integrity.
SUMMARY
OF FACTS
Multiple Australian customer warranty claims have been declined by the
owner and manufacturer Serene Industries Ltd.
– all for the same reason, because the Serene business never even existed prior
to 2021.
These relate to Serene branded heater products sold in Australia since
2014.
Serene Industries Ltd is headquartered in New Zealand, and it is owned and run
by a Christopher James Woodward who is based in Hong Kong.
Since early 2020 Christopher Woodward and his Commercial Manager Jeff Ong
(Wong) pictured, have been advising all customers with warranty claims in
Australia:
1. That all Australian customer warranty claims are
declined, there is no support whatsoever.
2. This is because Serene Industries Ltd has never had a business or products
in Australia.
3. Further, no Serene product has ever been designed for, intended for,
made compliant for, or market released in Australia.
4. Any Serene product that is in Australia can only be a dangerous and
illegal counterfeit product that has been sourced illicitly from the ‘murky
grey or dark web’ and sold by online ‘an internet scammer’.
5. Serene Industries Ltd is however willing to honour warrant claims by selling
the customer a replacement.
In July 2020 Serene Industries Ltd / Christopher Woodward and Jeff Ong
(Wong) has since changed this narrative:
6. Serene Industries has launched its business and products in Australia
from just 4 weeks ago (June 2020).
7. These products are designed and fully certified compliant for Australia with
full warranty support available.
Updated: In August 2022: Christopher
Woodward and Jeff Ong (Wong) are upping the ante as the warranty claims
increase:
8. Serene Industries has only been in operation in Australia since mid-2021
(not 2020 as previous advised) and confirm:
> That all warranty claim communications are now going unread.
> That they are now blocking all incoming warranty claim emails concerning
the original Serene Australia.
> That their diligent efforts resulted in this illegal internet trader
has been shut down by the Government.
> That WIKIFRAUDS will also be prosecuted and shut down by the new
Australian Government (see above).
(This date shift captures the swath of failed product that has been sold by a
subsequent agent in the 2 years since this story was first published – this
agent also now realising that they actually have no product or warranty
support.)
THESE ARE COMPLETELY FALSE STATEMENTS by Christopher Woodward
WIKIFRAUDS
enquiries lead us to Serene Heating Australia Pty
Ltd, a company that Woodward co-owned and had invited and signed up as the
exclusive Australian representative for Serene Industries Ltd in 2015.
WIKIFRAUDS has substantiated the following facts about Serene’s history in
Australia:
1. Since at least 2014 - Serene Industries Ltd / Christopher James
Woodward has actually had his Serene business and full product range operating
in Australia, through various agents and licensees.
2. Serene Heating Australia P/L was the longest and most pronounced, that
operated from October 2015 to September 2017 that was swiftly shut down.
3. From 2015 - Christopher James Woodward is recorded by ASIC as a shareholder
of Serene Heating Australia Pty Ltd.
4. Since at least 2014 - all Serene products have been designed for,
intended for, certified compliant for, and released in Australia.
5. Since at least 2015 - all Serene product safety compliance certifications
for Australia have been published on Serene Industries website www.serene-ind.com
6. These safety certifications are actually all issued by Australian
providers, in Australia, for Australia.
7. Since at least 2014 - Serene Industries Australian office details have been
printed on every product carton that Serene has ever made, as well as on
the Serene website.
8. Since at least 2014 - all Serene sales brochures have the Australian
office contact details included, as are still published on the Serene website.
9. Serene Industries Ltd has been investigated by the Safety
Regulator with multiple heater fires recorded in Australia and New
Zealand.
10. Investigations into Serene also include Choice Consumer Advocacy, ACCC, NSW
Small Claims, and Legal forums.
11. In September 2022 the new
Tasmanian master agent as published on the Serene website contacted the
Director of the original Serene Heating Australia P/L confirming;
> A request for any old original Serene heater stock?
> They purchased a container of Serene heaters and there are numerous
product failures, some are failing straight out of the carton.
> They cannot get support out of Serene Industries Ltd
> They tried calling the Australian office phone number as published by
Serene Industries Ltd since 2020 – turns out this is an unattended number!
> They certainly WILL NOT be purchasing any more product from Serene
Industries Ltd.
> They have advised their customers that they can no longer support their
Serene product sold.
WHO ARE
SERENE INDUSTRIES LTD and Christopher James Woodward?
WIKIFRAUDS has substantiated the following via public and company
records:
1. New Zealand Companies Office records confirm:
(a) Serene Industries Ltd is registered in Christchurch, New
Zealand (NZ Company office 4176478) and they also have an office in Hong Kong.
(b) Christopher James Woodward resides in Hong Kong, however further documents
lodged have him residing at an address in Auckland, New Zealand.
(c) Serene Industries Ltd in New Zealand appears to be registered to a parent
company Serene Ltd in Hong Kong.
2.
Australian ASIC Company records confirm:
(a) Serene Heating Australia Pty Ltd was registered in
June 2015, 4 months prior to the business commencing in Australia. (ABN 11 605
789 197)
(b) The same Christopher James Woodward of Hong Kong is registered as a
shareholder since October 2015.
3. Serene Industries
publish on their website www.serene-ind.com
(a) Their Australian office email and phone number
(b) They have a single Australian distributor in Tasmania as well as online
sales.
(c) They also have a UK and European offices
(d) All Serene sales brochures going back as far as 2014 include the Australian
office contacts
4. The Serene Australian and New Zealand office details are printed on all of
the Serene product cartons as far back as 2014.
5. These Serene Australia domains were registered by Serene Heating Australia
P/L and all point to Serene Industries website since 2015.
www.serene-australia.com
www.serene-australia.com.au
www.sereneheating.com
www.sereneheating.com.au
READ
ALL ABOUT IT HERE
1. A swift reality
check for Christopher Woodward (hyperlink)
2. A photo summary of
Woodward’s Serene business and products in Australia, that he keeps telling
everyone never existed and was just an infiltration by cyber criminals.
(hyperlink)
3. General feedback from other industry operators experience(s) dealing with
Christopher Woodward since the 1980s (hyperlink)
4. Read about each customer
warranty claim and Serene / Woodward fraudulent report (hyperlink)