KEY POINTS:
An email in the name of Blue Chip co-founder Mark Bryers has been sent to a former financial adviser inviting him to join a new property scheme.
The email dated February 22 - just a week after the first tranche of Blue Chip-related companies went into liquidation - said Mr Bryers was setting up a new business selling residential investment properties in Australia and New Zealand.
"We are contacting the best Blue Chip advisers to see if they want to join the team," said the email.
"We have negotiated very lucrative deals with developers and are looking to pay all sales people around 5 per cent."
The Weekend Herald has been unable to contact Mr Bryers to confirm that he sent the email.
Twenty Blue Chip-related companies are in liquidation, one is in administration, and collectively they owe an estimated $72 million.
Thousands of small investors have been left out of pocket. Their problems range from outstanding rental income to being forced to settle on apartments they can't afford.
The Serious Fraud Office and the Commerce Commission are investigating the Blue Chip business. The SFO said yesterday it was aware of the email.
One former Blue Chip adviser who received the email said he was "bloody astounded".
"The fact that the man is still touting for the same sort of business - it's just unbelievable."
He said he responded to the email, telling Mr Bryers he would be happy to work for him again, once the Blue Chip founder paid back all his clients.
"Dumbfounded. Speechless. Gobsmacked," was the reaction from Blue Chip investors' spokeswoman Greta Norman.
She said the email would be going out to her database of investors.
Liquidator Jeff Meltzer said yesterday he hadn't previously been aware of the email, but would put it to Mr Bryers at a meeting this morning.
