Speaking on behalf of local accountants, Pambula accountant Colin Salt said he was concerned that some local businesses had been referred to Blake Richards and were clearly unaware of his alleged activities.

Mr Richards has been suspended from the institute after allegations of fraud, poorly constructed investment advice and failure to tell clients

they were investing in related entities of the accountant.

It is believed people from the Merimbula region had invested funds with this accountant.

Mr Richards has been the subject of substantial media attention through The Sydney Morning Herald and Channel Nine’s “A Current Affair” for his activities in financial planning.

He was described in The Sydney Morning Herald’s article of June 9, headed “With God on his side” as a devout Christian and former warden of Ulladulla’s St Martin’s Anglican Church and was a founding parent of the local Christian school and chairman of a youth charity foundation.

He was a well known accountant who ran a thriving practice on Ulladulla’s main street.

Clients included schools, churches, businesses and anyone with money to invest in his many and varied investment schemes.

“People trusted Blake, and I think he has betrayed that trust,” said a pastor of the Anglican parish of Ulladulla the Rev. Geoff Deutscher in the SMH article, .

“But he doesn’t seem to have any sense of reality or comprehension of the pain that he has caused people.

“It’s like he’s in a fantasy world,” said Mr Deutscher

Mr Salt said, “Our advice to the public is to ensure that when you receive tax advice always use accredited professional people who belong to a recognised accounting body such as CPA, NIA or ICA.”

“When seeking investment advice look for a Certified Financial Planner certification (CPA), the only globally recognised mark of professionalism for financial planners.”