Winning Lavish Home on Reality TV Leads to Unexpected Headaches for Lucky Couple

A couple who recently won a $2.7 million luxury home through an Australian reality TV show promotion are alleging the prize isn't quite what it seemed. Kevin and Andrea Griffin were awarded the five-bedroom, six-bathroom house in Gisborne, northwest of Melbourne, after entering a contest held by LMCT+, an online company that offers members chances to win big-ticket items like sports cars and vacations.

The couple had paid LMCT+'s $20 monthly membership fee for over a year when their name was drawn as the winner of the extravagant home, valued at nearly $3 million Australian dollars. But shortly after the Griffins took possession of the property, they say they discovered numerous high-end fixtures and appliances were removed from the house prior to their arrival.

Security footage obtained by Australian media appears to show LMCT+ founder Adrian Portelli and others taking items like a commercial-grade wine cooler, meat smoker and treadmill from the Gisborne house just days before the Griffins were given the keys.

"We were pretty upset when we walked in and saw all this stuff gone," Andrea Griffin told reporters. "It wasn't what we were expecting." The missing appliances included top-of-the-line brands like Fisher & Paykel, Smeg and Vitamix, which the couple said added significant value to the advertised prize package.

Portelli has pushed back against accusations of wrongdoing, countering that the items in question were only meant to stage the home for marketing purposes, not as part of the contest giveaway." Our terms and conditions stated this was a fully furnished house, and that's what we provided," Portelli said in a statement to media outlets.

But the Griffins argue the promotion explicitly included the upscale appliances as part of the prize, based on promotional materials and social media posts. They say removing them without notice constitutes blatant deception.

"We feel cheated and misled," Kevin Griffin told news outlets. "This is not what anyone would consider 'fully furnished.'"

The disagreement comes amid broader scrutiny of LMCT+’s business practices. Consumer protection agencies in two Australian states recently confirmed they are investigating complaints against the company.

Portelli gained publicity last year when he announced he would raffle off the Gisborne house through LMCT+, which he founded in 2018. The company hosts monthly contests awarding luxury cars, vacations and cash to members who pay a monthly fee for entry.

Winners are selected through live-streamed drawings showing a wheel of fortune spun by glamorous models. The promotional events, hosted at LMCT+'s "House of Dreams" located outside Melbourne, are broadcast on the company's social media channels.

But Australian authorities are now probing whether the contests constitute illegal gambling or misleading advertising. Concerns have surfaced around the transparency of LMCT+'s drawings and rules.

The Griffins say the experience has been a nightmare, and they’re speaking out to caution others about potential deception. They decided to accept the house after assessing their legal options but remain dissatisfied."We want to warn people to really read the fine print of any promotion and be very wary," Kevin Griffin said.

Portelli maintains he did nothing wrong and is now planning a new $1 contest to give away the items removed from the home. He accused the couple of seeking attention, but hopes to quickly resolve the matter." If I caused them any stress, I do apologize," Portelli said in a media statement. Both parties declined further comment on the matter when contacted by reporters.

The Griffins say they entered the contest hoping to win a luxurious dream home as advertised. Instead, they feel their prize failed to match expectations.

While the five-bedroom house itself was as promoted, the missing high-end appliances costing tens of thousands of dollars left them feeling cheated.

"This is not the house we thought we'd won," Andrea Griffin said.

The couple is considering legal options but reluctant to engage in a lengthy court battle. They hope sharing their story proves a cautionary tale for others entering contests with prizes that seem too good to be true. Meanwhile, scrutiny is growing on Portelli's catchy LMCT+ promotions as consumer agencies investigate shady practices. The company insists it follows all rules and delivers promised prizes.

But the Griffins felt blindsided to find the house stripped of showy appliances displayed in marketing materials they say constituted part of the prize explicitly.

Portelli argues the items were only for staging purposes, not giveaways. But the furious couple hopes their situation gives pause to those considering entering LMCT+'s lucrative contests.

"Just be really careful," Kevin Griffin warned. With emotions raw after a prize experience gone sour, further fallout remains uncertain. Both parties seem dug in regarding who breached good faith in the luxury home giveaway.

But bigger questions now hang over LMCT+'s overall business model as authorities probe promoter practices. However the Griffin's dispute shakes out, deeper reckoning over practices in attention-grabbing prize promotions may have only just begun.