Just thought I would like to raise awareness on the rise of overseas $$$ scammers (particularly from the Philippines and they operate in syndicates and their con-tactics are getting more advanced lately) using SG prepaid SIM cards and posing as locals and asking for ppl to contact them via Whatsapp only.
Remember, when someone specifically states in their ad to ONLY WHATSAPP them, its most likely a Scam. You will find the number uncontactable when you try to SMS them or call them because they are using SG Prepaid SIMs hooked up via WIFI on Whatsapp to maintain contact.
It appears the old tactic of asking for $$$ thru email and sending copy of Singapore ICs / Driving Licences to prove they are genuine sellers no longer works, and they decided to step up their game. Now they have resorted to creating Bogus websites posing as Singapore mobile dealers, selling gadgets and mobile phones with delivery service and even Customer service via Whatsapp. :rolleyes You can see how determined they are to try to con your $$$ instead of getting a job. :sarcastic
Some bogus companies that I spotted - singmobiletech and www.SgElect.com and Holy Soul Electronics Pte Ltd. And they are flooding their ads on HWZ, Carousell and Gumtree posing as shop dealers or as end users in need of cash and urgent to sell. And btw, many of the numbers you see on these ads telling you to whatsapp them are all traced to the companies I stated above, which means its a whole syndicate of them out there trying ways and means to cheat your $$$.
Besides posing as individual sellers, they also masquerade as legitimate resellers, advertising a range of products. Sometimes their website is accessible, and sometimes it disappears. They even list their address at common locations like shopping malls e.g. Changi City Point, Raffles Clifford Centre but with NO unit address if you actually observe well enough. A check with Singapore's business registry ACRA also shows these businesses do not exist, nor are they tenants in the addresses they stated. :rolleyes
Best part, I tried to contact one of them and pretended to be interested to test the water. The person over Whatsapp tried to act professional and even said they would provide the delivery details and shipping number. When I asked to provide a photo of the actual product, the person sent me a photo which was obviously taken from Google search. :sarcastic
:songdah2:
Just like to remind folks here, the minute you transfer the money to them, your $$$ is as good as gone, as the crooks are clearly exploiting SG's consumer laws that have no power to reclaim your loss nor prosecute the ones who scammed you even if they are based in SG. Even with a Police report, you will end up being taichi-ed here and there and referred only to agencies like CASE and Small Claims Tribunal which is a waste of time. Even if you can provide the bank account number used to scam you, the authorities will not do anything much to help you.
For sums below $2500 on consumer disputes, all are referred to Small Claims which do not enforce legal action against the criminals except wasting a few weeks of your time waiting, only to have the court registrar grant you the compensation award since the scammers wont turn up to court, and then you (yourself) have to locate the scammers' address, which means its as good as nothing since the scammers are either based overseas or untraceable.
Remember, when someone specifically states in their ad to ONLY WHATSAPP them, its most likely a Scam. You will find the number uncontactable when you try to SMS them or call them because they are using SG Prepaid SIMs hooked up via WIFI on Whatsapp to maintain contact.
It appears the old tactic of asking for $$$ thru email and sending copy of Singapore ICs / Driving Licences to prove they are genuine sellers no longer works, and they decided to step up their game. Now they have resorted to creating Bogus websites posing as Singapore mobile dealers, selling gadgets and mobile phones with delivery service and even Customer service via Whatsapp. :rolleyes You can see how determined they are to try to con your $$$ instead of getting a job. :sarcastic
Some bogus companies that I spotted - singmobiletech and www.SgElect.com and Holy Soul Electronics Pte Ltd. And they are flooding their ads on HWZ, Carousell and Gumtree posing as shop dealers or as end users in need of cash and urgent to sell. And btw, many of the numbers you see on these ads telling you to whatsapp them are all traced to the companies I stated above, which means its a whole syndicate of them out there trying ways and means to cheat your $$$.
Besides posing as individual sellers, they also masquerade as legitimate resellers, advertising a range of products. Sometimes their website is accessible, and sometimes it disappears. They even list their address at common locations like shopping malls e.g. Changi City Point, Raffles Clifford Centre but with NO unit address if you actually observe well enough. A check with Singapore's business registry ACRA also shows these businesses do not exist, nor are they tenants in the addresses they stated. :rolleyes
Best part, I tried to contact one of them and pretended to be interested to test the water. The person over Whatsapp tried to act professional and even said they would provide the delivery details and shipping number. When I asked to provide a photo of the actual product, the person sent me a photo which was obviously taken from Google search. :sarcastic
:songdah2:
Just like to remind folks here, the minute you transfer the money to them, your $$$ is as good as gone, as the crooks are clearly exploiting SG's consumer laws that have no power to reclaim your loss nor prosecute the ones who scammed you even if they are based in SG. Even with a Police report, you will end up being taichi-ed here and there and referred only to agencies like CASE and Small Claims Tribunal which is a waste of time. Even if you can provide the bank account number used to scam you, the authorities will not do anything much to help you.
For sums below $2500 on consumer disputes, all are referred to Small Claims which do not enforce legal action against the criminals except wasting a few weeks of your time waiting, only to have the court registrar grant you the compensation award since the scammers wont turn up to court, and then you (yourself) have to locate the scammers' address, which means its as good as nothing since the scammers are either based overseas or untraceable.
via Singapore Classified http://ift.tt/1ybTlCP
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