Another Scam? Singapore Business Pages
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http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070611232642AAQfpw3
Anyone had bad experience with Singapore Business Pages?
Wonder if anyone had a bad experience with Singapore Business Pages, who get companies to sign a contract for advertisement, with the impression that its free and then charging high fees. Heard there are a number of people who were similarly "conned". What did you do? Please share your experience.
Hi There,
It is sad that the same sales tactic is utilised again and again. A friend of mine refused to pay the bill when presented. Apart from that there is nothing much you can do but pass the info around.
To me it is not expensive but a waste of money as no one really calls you from there. -
http://www.lpconline.com/fake_yellow_pages_scams.html
COMMON FRAUDS AGAINST BUSINESS
BUSINESS TIPS
1 page, latest update 6/99
YELLOW PAGES: FAKE YELLOW PAGES SCAMS
In these cases, the business usually receives a copy of a legitimate-appearing yellow page ad--often a copy of the actual ad contained in the legitimate publication. In other cases, the document received may simply show the Yellow Pages category and request that this be reviewed and confirmed as being listed under the correct category.
Often these documents are very official appearing and it is very easy to mistake them as a confirmation of a listing in the local telephone service's Yellow Pages.
The invoice enclosed with the "confirmation" document is designed to deceive the business into believing it came from the local Yellow Pages directory of the local telephone service.
What is actually provided, however, is a listing in some obscure directory, perhaps even a low-hit Internet Yellow Pages directory.
It is easy for businesses to be deceived by these scams, since neither the words "Yellow Pages," nor the "Walking Fingers" logo or symbol are copyrighted or trademarked.
To avoid any confusion in this area, Loss Prevention Concepts, Ltd. recommends that businesses always deal closely with their local telephone representatives in regard to Yellow Pages advertising.
While advertising or listing in other publications may be beneficial and provide exposure which may produce sales, marketing strategies used by reputable directory publishers, not related to local Yellow Page, do not use deceptive come-ons like these, but rely on their own earned reputations to sell their services.
______________________________ -
This writer " Maria Carissa Padlan " is either do not know this scam or related to the scam:
Singapore Business Pages
by Maria Carissa Padlan
Singapore is one of the developed and successful countries across Asia and all over the world. Its economy had flourished over the years making them a top priority for major investors and entrepreneurs. Perhaps, the major attraction of Singapore to be of greater importance to most business minded people is their economic stability and corruption-free government. As a matter of fact, there is a total of 3,000 Multi National Corporations from the United States and Japan. Foreign firms are found in almost all sectors of Singaporean economy. Despite of having inadequate supply of natural resources, it does not hinder Singapore in improvising raw materials which is an essential part in the production of their products. Their main sources of revenue for the economy are the exports, particularly in electronics, chemicals and services. Singapore also relies on the concept of Entrepot. This is the process where in Singapore purchases raw goods for refinement and then re-exports it. Lucky enough, Singapore has a strategic port making it accessible for entrepot activities and competitive compared to its neighboring countries. The port of Singapore is the busiest in the world making them surpass Hong Kong and Shanghai. The education system in Singapore is also a success because the country continuously produce skilled workforce which as a result, this skilled workforce provide easier access for imports and exports and also provides skills needed for the refinement of those imports and exports.
Indeed, Singapore is considered to be remarkable in a sense that it has developed rapidly as compared to its neighboring countries in Asia. Despite of its historical background, Singapore progressively coped up with the demands of the growing industry today and still preserving the development that they are experiencing now. Singapore is ranked third in the most competitive economy by the World Competitiveness Yearbook and sixth most competitive economy by the Global Competitiveness Report.
Businesses in Singapore both foreign and local are so eager in promoting their products and services through advertisements and marketing services. Fortunately, there is a company in Singapore which specializes in business to business directory. Singapore Business Pages is the name of the company.
Singapore Business Pages is the leading and dedicated business to business classified directory circulating throughout Singapore. Business to Business or commonly known as B2B is the term used to describe the transaction of goods and services between other businesses. Singapore Business Pages is a one stop shop company in Singapore which specializes in Business Directories, Online Searchable Database and Marketing Solutions. The company basically owns and manages various database marketing products which in turn have a total of 11 million companies in the Asia Pacific Region which highlights key executive contact details in their database. Singapore Business Pages is also proud to say that they are capable of providing various targeted marketing solutions that meet the needs of ones expanding business. In every database, it is essential to preserve accuracy and effectivity of the data thatÂ’s why their database is being updated by the call center team throughout the year.
The database of Singapore Business Pages is not only accurate but also it has benefited a number of businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to large and multi-national corporations. As a result, there is an increase in awareness, business revenue, direct marketing and telemarketing activities.
Singapore Business Pages is the perfect tool in finding new suppliers and customers. The printed directory of Singapore Business Pages is circulated and displayed to all major establishments all over Singapore which includes Public Libraries, Hotels, Banks, Real Estate, Government Offices, Airlines and Chambers of Commerce including enterprises both small and medium as well as large Multi National Corporations. The subscribers and users of Singapore Business Pages will have the assurance that the information in every edition of the directory is current and up to date because editions are released every 6 months. As a matter of fact, the directory contains appropriate information advantageous for any business. Examples of that information are Upcoming Trade Shows and Exhibitions, Public Holidays, Local Travel and Telephone Numbers, Government/Embassy Details and Maps etc. Along with the directory is a copy of a CD ROM which contains the complete copy of the printed directory. Another thing, the directory of Singapore Business Pages is comprised of different advertising sizes that are applicable to a variety of advertising budgets.
As the company Singapore Business Pages continues to innovate, the marketing team is in constant search on how to develop its features. They have formulated various marketing services that are beneficial in helping the business grow and get the message across to their business directories. The services include E-mailing Campaign, Telemarketing Campaign, Web Site Design and Mailing Campaign. Every business should advertise with Singapore Business Pages is the best place for companies to advertise their products and services because almost everyday, businesses are in search for new suppliers and customers that would purchase their products and avail their services.
For more information about Singapore Business Pages, please visit this site: http://abdpl.blogspot.com and for more references kindly visit this link: http://www.abdpl.com
About the author
Maria Carissa Padlan is a Business Analyst which specializes in Marketing strategies and Advertising concepts of a business. At present, she has projects in researching about B2B or Business to Business Classified directories.To know more about the author you may visit her blogs: Singapore Business Pages and Hong Kong Business Pages -
This is posted by Kim Cheng. Trying so hard to project a good image for the scammer.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Hong Kong: A moving forward economy
Hong Kong as a country is very progressive in nature. Its history opened a lot of doors for success. As we all know, Hong Kong had been colonized by United Kingdom for more than 50 years, but that grievous experience did not hinder them to work hard and struggle to survive and to cope up with fellow countries. Over the years and at present, their economy have prospered and boomed to be the leading country across Asia Pacific and even Europe. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong is the wealthiest urban center in the PeopleÂ’s Republic of China and the GDP (PPP) per capita of Hong Kong has already exceeded the four biggest countries in Western Europe namely UK, France, Germany, Italy as well as Japan. Most businesses in Hong Kong are being managed by private sectors. The Government of Hong Kong leaves their economy to the market forces and private sectors. The British Administration had influenced them to pursue that kind of attitude towards their economy.
Businesses all over the world are so eager in promoting their products and services through advertising and marketing campaigns. In Hong Kong, there is a company specially made for businesses who wish to advertise their company to various subscribers. The company is famously known as Hong Kong Business Pages.
Hong Kong Business Pages is a company which specializes in Business to Business classified directories. Business to Business or “B2B” is a term commonly used to describe the transactions of goods and services between various businesses. In this case, Hong Kong Business Pages focuses on diversified businesses who wish to advertise their products or services via database directories. Almost everyday, businesses are in constant search for new suppliers and customers that would patronize their products and avail their services and Hong Kong Business Pages is the perfect tool for this. Hong Kong Business Pages is indeed a one stop shop for businesses that prefer to advertise their products or services by means of Business Directories, Online Searchable Database and Marketing Solutions. At present, there are a total of 11 million companies highlighting key executive details in their database throughout the Asia Pacific Region. Hong Kong Business Pages is proud to say that they have the capacity to administer various targeted marketing solutions to the needs of the expanding business of their clients. To justify that statement, Hong Kong Business Pages already benefited a number of businesses ranging from Small and Medium enterprises to Large Multi national corporations through increasing awareness, business revenue, direct and tele- marketing activities. In addition to that, the call center team is devoted in updating the database through out the year.
In order to promote the directory and instill product awareness to subscribers and future clients, Hong Kong Business Pages is distributed to a comprehensive list of businesses and business associations. The circulation includes the following: Government Offices, Hotels, Public Libraries, Banks, Real Estate, Airlines and Chambers of Commerce. The directory is also released every 6 months to integrate it with the latest business information and advertisers. The directory also serves as a business guide which contains important information for any business which includes upcoming trade shows and exhibitions within Asia, Financial Assistance, useful business forms, local and Asia travel, government/embassy details, Asia and local maps and public Holidays. Along with the directory is a CD ROM which contains the copy of the directory. Its paper is printed on high quality paper to ensure that the advertisersÂ’ artwork is well presented. Another feature of the Printed Directory is the adverts with different sizes and designs that appeal to everyoneÂ’s taste and budget. Over the years, Hong Kong Business Pages have developed several marketing services that are beneficial to businesses. The services are as follows: E-Mailing Campaign, Telemarketing campaign, Web site Design and Mailing Campaign.
Posted by Kim Cheng at 7:10 PM 0 comments -
This is posted by Kim Cheng. Trying so hard to project a good image for the scammer.
http://hkbdl.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hong Kong Business Pages
Hong Kong Business Pages specializes in providing business to business classified directories which serve as a perfect tool in hunting for new suppliers and customers. They manage and own various database marketing products which include Business Directories, Online Searchable Database and Marketing Solutions. The database of Hong Kong Business Pages holds a total of 11 million companies through out the Asia-Pacific Region highlighting key executivesÂ’ contact details. It has the ability to provide various targeted marketing solutions to meet the needs of your expanding business. The database of Hong Kong Business Pages is guaranteed to be current and effective because its call center team updates the database through out the year. In addition to that, the database of Hong Kong Business Pages has benefited various businesses, ranging from small & medium enterprises to large multi-national corporations in increasing awareness, business revenue, direct marketing and tele-marketing activities.
The immediate and ultimate goal of Hong Kong Business Pages is to become a one-stop shop for all business to business companies that wish to implement advertising campaigns and marketing solutions throughout the Asia-Pacific Region; whatever the field may be, whether its advertising, web site design, direct marketing, telemarketing, mailing or brand development, Hong Kong Business Pages shall seek to provide a solution.
As the company continues to expand and develop its services and marketing tools to meet companiesÂ’ varied needs, they will not loose track of the roots of the company and those ideals which created their strengths and determination. As part of the companyÂ’s mission is to continue creating technology that works. The company understands that from the initial proposal to project delivery and beyond, the most crucial part is the entire communication process. Hong Kong Business Pages is accomplished from getting concepts from the drawing board to the real world. Their processes of strategic planning, detailed specifications and expert creative directions ensure the successful implementation of brand awareness and guarantee the inclusion of all critical elements.
The management philosophy and focus of Hong Kong Business Pages is to continually address the business needs and demands of all their customers and to better enable them to reach out to their targeted market through varied and tested mediums. This is achieved by actively listening to all the ideas suggested by their users and advertisers and continually developing their products and services. Hong Kong Business Pages is dedicated in enhancing their customerÂ’s product and service awareness throughout the various business communities by utilizing and maximizing all their talented expertise.
The companyÂ’s experienced management team can handle all inquiries, questions, tasks and concerns pertaining to Hong Kong Business Pages. Their office is composed of skilled sales and marketing team, graphic and web site team, and administrative personnel that could help with all the inquiries and to work with your company in designing an extensive marketing campaign that will promote your company.
To increase the awareness and usage of Hong Kong Business Pages directory, it is distributed to an extensive list of businesses and business associations. The most important part is to get their advertisers message across to key decision makers in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Business Directory is circulated to all their existing Subscribers, Government Offices, Public Libraries, Hotels, Banks, Real Estate, Airlines and Chamber of Commerce throughout Hong Kong including Small and Medium Enterprises as well as large Multi National Corporations. The directory is released every six months to make sure that the directory is inclined with the latest business information and advertisers. Each directory contains a copy of the CD ROM. In addition to that, the directory also contains various advertising sizes that appeals to everyoneÂ’s advertising budget so that every business can benefit from advertising within their directory.
Another feature that Hong Kong Business Pages offers aside from the comprehensive database are the E-Mailing campaign, Telemarketing campaign, Web Site Design and Mailing Campaign.
Hong Kong Business Pages is a devoted Business to Business (B-2-B) Directory that is distributed to a lot of local and foreign establishments like Public Libraries, Hotels, Banks, Chambers of Commerce and Trade departments. All the artworks of the Hong Kong Business Pages provide the option to include full color and graphics at no extra charge. Also, their dedicated team of designers can assist you at no extra charge if you require some assistance in the creation of your artwork. They also have various advertising options and packages to meet the needs of all their advertisersÂ’ needs and budgets. Hong Kong Business Pages also enabled their clients to increase revenue and profits by increasing their company awareness and exposure in the marketplace.
The database of Hong Kong Business Pages allows users to search for a wide selection of over 32 business sectors through out Hong Kong. Users may search for a supplier, customer, and business partners or if they just want to check out competitors. The database provides specific information about the selected company like Company Name, Address, Telephone & Fax details. It allows you to contact these companies immediately.
Posted by Kim Cheng at 10:47 PM 0 comments
http://hkbdl.blogspot.com/ -
How did Asian Business Directories make Singapore Business Pages resemble Yellow Pages
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I think the scammer is trying to sugar-coat their dirty business on the Internet as much as possible. If you google Singapore Business Pages and Hong Kong Business Pages without quoting the names you will find a lot of links to it, and those links are either irrelevant or advertisements created by the scammer on some random sites to promote the scam. The purpose of doing that is to avoid people do a search online and find out forums and news articles about the scam. Usually victims only do a quote search after realising it is a scam but it is already too late.
What I can say is that it is a very sophisticated and well-thought scam. Scammers are very familiar with the loopholes in the law. Their business logo appears to be "trustworthy" (ie. closely resembles to either some very well known advertisement pages or the government business pages). They prey on small companies who are unfamiliar with the law concept of a "contract". When I talk to other victims I found out that some of us actually read and understood the small prints on top but failed to recognise a letter without both parties' signatures could be a contract. And there really are magazines or directories around with similar letters for a free subscription. And some victims even called to ask the scammer and were told it is a free update! So it is not only a scam for busy workers who fax back the letter in a rush without reading it. And it is so wrong that the scammer try defend themselves saying we get ourselves into it because of our carelessness and we deserve to pay for our mistakes! Shame on them!!! -
http://www.police.gov.hk/police/pprb/peb/english/090404_e.html
2007-09-04 21:16
Police Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) officers today (September 4) arrested
eight persons in connection with a suspected defraud case in which a number of
companies were being deceived by a business directory company.
About 300 victimized companies complained to CCB since late 2006 that they have
received unsolicited letters from a directory company inviting them to verify
and update their companys' details for inclusion in a publication similar to
the yellow pages.
However, the letter also contained a paragraph printed with very small letters
outlining the terms and conditions, which require the victimized companies to
pay for subscribing the advertising service.
The paragraph was often unnoticed by the victims who only realized that when
they subsequently received invoices from the company.
After investigation, CCB carrying out an operation today and arrested three men
and five women, aged between 19 and 41. They included the director,
shareholder, general manger, and customer representatives of the company.
Investigation revealed that 41 complainants have already paid over HK$540,000
for advertisement or cancellation fees.
All the arrested persons have been released on bail pending for further
investigation.
Police appealed to the public, in particular small and medium enterprises, to
pay special attention to the same modus operandi and not fallen prey to the
same possible fraud. -
Hong KOng Police are so much more efficient than oursOriginally posted by scarborough:http://www.police.gov.hk/police/pprb/peb/english/090404_e.html
2007-09-04 21:16
Police Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) officers today (September 4) arrested
eight persons in connection with a suspected defraud case in which a number of
companies were being deceived by a business directory company.
About 300 victimized companies complained to CCB since late 2006 that they have
received unsolicited letters from a directory company inviting them to verify
and update their companys' details for inclusion in a publication similar to
the yellow pages.
However, the letter also contained a paragraph printed with very small letters
outlining the terms and conditions, which require the victimized companies to
pay for subscribing the advertising service.
The paragraph was often unnoticed by the victims who only realized that when
they subsequently received invoices from the company.
After investigation, CCB carrying out an operation today and arrested three men
and five women, aged between 19 and 41. They included the director,
shareholder, general manger, and customer representatives of the company.
Investigation revealed that 41 complainants have already paid over HK$540,000
for advertisement or cancellation fees.
All the arrested persons have been released on bail pending for further
investigation.
Police appealed to the public, in particular small and medium enterprises, to
pay special attention to the same modus operandi and not fallen prey to the
same possible fraud. -
All the police in the world are acting on Directory scam ... what about ours
http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/11/29/directory-scheme-traps-businesses.php
Directory scheme traps businesses
Five companies are now in litigation against Swiss firm
By Paul Voosen
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
November 29th, 2006 issue
Intercable Verlag is suing Bob Peppett's company to collect.
It starts with the whir of a fax machine, the opening of an envelope or a knock on the door at the end of a long business day. You're presented with a simple form, reading "European Internet Register" across the top in bold type. At first glance, the form appears to offer a free update to one's business's listing in a Europe-wide directory.
But, in carefully worded fine print at the form's base, it becomes clear that, by signing and sending the form back to the publisher — Swiss-based Intercable Verlag — you are entering into a contract to purchase three editions of a business directory, at a total price of 2,070 euros ($2,670/57,774 Kč
. Repeated invoices soon follow, putting pressure on the business to pay, and litigation may be threatened.
Five Czech companies that say they were duped by these forms into entering contracts with Intercable Verlag are now fighting back, contesting lawsuits brought against them in Czech courts by Intercable. These cases are currently being heard or under appeal in regional courts, some the culmination of years of dispute.
"Anyone that does not want our paid services returns the form unsigned," said Adrian Wittmer, Intercable Verlag's managing director. "It is general business practice to read what one signs; consequently, the signee cannot be misled."
Some 1,500 Czech companies or nonprofits have paid Intercable after signing its forms, says one law firm investigating Intercable.
Sixty-one-year-old Bob Peppett, a British businessman whose Czech-based furniture company, Brastan, signed an Intercable form in March 2004, is now fending off an Intercable Verlag lawsuit against his company for failure to pay.
Peppett still has a photocopy of the original signed agreement, kept in a phonebook-size black binder of invoices, e-mails and faxes he has collected, the fruits of several hundred hours of research against the company. "This form may look primitive, but it just stays in the bounds of legality."
When his company received the first invoice from Intercable in April 2004, Peppett faxed back a terse response reading, "This order is not genuine. Please cancel, as we will not pay." He then told his staff to throw out any subsequent invoices, thinking there would be no follow through. He was wrong, and Intercable continued to contact Brastan with invoices and eventually letters from management. Peppett was urged by a nervous staff to act, and so he went to the Internet.
There he found a sprawling community of businesspeople from across Europe, including other Czech companies, who felt that they were victims of Intercable's directory scheme. He began contacting Swiss and European authorities.
Intercable Verlag's Wittmer said he does not understand why Peppett is trying to destroy his business in the Czech Republic. Wittmer tried to come to an understanding with Peppett, he said, but now they must let the courts decide the dispute. Intercable has also filed a slander suit against Peppett, to be heard in January.
"We get a lot of complaints about these types of scams," said Katie Carroll, spokeswoman for the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA). The largest number of complaints have been against two companies, European City Guide and Construct Data Verlag.
The practices of both companies, based in Spain and Austria, respectively, are similar to those of Intercable Verlag. All three companies may in fact be owned or influenced by the same man, German businessman Meinolf Lüdenbach, said Christian Bütikofer, a Swiss journalist who has investigated Intercable and related companies over the past year for the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.
The Swiss government is aware of the controversy Intercable and similar companies based within its borders have caused. It has issued warnings against the businesses. Swiss police raided the offices of Intercable Verlag June 20, spurred by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); the raid was an expansion of an investigation into three other companies begun the previous year.
Guido Sutter of SECO confirmed the investigation of Intercable Verlag but declined to comment further on related cases now before the Swiss courts.
"The Czech Republic is very popular for Intercable, as are Poland and Slovakia," said Bütikofer. "The particular trick with Intercable is that it works with people," he said, using freelance sales representatives who approach institutions in person. This is unlike any other directory scheme Bütikofer knows of.
The law firm IMG has been following Intercable's activities in the Czech Republic after it, too, signed an agreement with the company. According to its research, 60 percent of the Czech organizations that have signed agreements with Intercable — which include schools, hospitals and town halls — were approached in person by sales representatives. Receptionists and assistants would then sign Intercable's forms, with the contracts going to five years in length at 1,290 euros a year.
Unlike Brastan, IMG did not receive an invoice from Intercable until a year after the first form was signed. A lawyer from the company who declined to be named attributed this delay to Article 23 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, which allows one year for a contract to be challenged if one party feels deceived. To this point, IMG has received only invoices from Intercable and has not been sued.
Other companies have not been so lucky, and Intercable has suits open against five different firms. One suit, against CS International, is now in appeal, and, according to IMG, CS International has a great chance to win. Even if the suit is won, under the Czech judicial system, this does not establish a precedent in the Anglo-American sense. Intercable could still win related suits. CS International declined to comment on the case.
The day before Brastan's case was to go to trial, Nov. 23 in Ústà nad OrlicÃ, east Bohemia, Peppett predicted that the case would be adjourned, based on an excuse raised by the prosecution. Such an adjournment would perfectly match Intercable's tactics, he said — delaying the case is one more way of pressuring him to settle.
The next day, the court adjourned Brastan's case.
Naďa Černá contributed to this report.
Paul Voosen can be reached at [email protected]
Other articles in Business (29/11/2006):
Skewed advertising
ČSA replaces half its top brass
EU directive will aid Czech service industry
10 Questions
Movers & Shakers
Biz Week
Biz Events
A slightly better nightmare
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Reader's comments:add your comment
[10:52 05/12/2006] : Never pay, should you be foolish enough to fall in the trap. It works over here, Switzerland, and must work from any other country as well.
Links to some articles and a website:
- ADRESSEN, DIE INS GELD GEHEN
by Aureliusz Pedziwol/Prag
tagblatt.ch, 16.2.2006
http://www.tagblatt.ch/index.php?artikelxml=xxx&artikel_id=1150646&ressort=tagblattheute/wirtschaftTagblatt Heute
- KRIPO BESUCHT ZUGER WEB-VERLAG
by Christian Bütikofer
Tages-Anzeiger, 9.10.2006
http://tagi.ch/dyn/digital/hintergrund/674588.html
- STOP Intercable Verlag AG
http://www.stopecg.org/intercable.htm
- Stop The European City Guide!
http://www.stopecg.org
And also:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Intercable+Verlag
Vladimir Rott
Zurich
[09:52 14/03/2007] : ive known bob peppett many years he is a trusted friend and very honest
patrick hiney
london
[20:08 27/09/2007] : My husband and I run a small holiday camping park on the west coast of Wales. My family were here for many years before us. I do all the paperwork, while my husband looks after the outside work. I have always been extra careful of junk post, email and telephone calls and feel that it has become hard work to fight all these people away - especially at the telephone. That is why I cannot believe how I have somehow become one of the latest victims of Nova Channel AG! Fortunately I found someone who knew about them before I paid and have been scouring the Internet for the last week to educate myself further.
I am absolutely shocked to read all about it. My case is still in very early stages as I have only just received their first "surprise" invoice. We are honest, hard-working people and have never refused to pay our bills, but I will go to prison in Switzerland before I pay this one.
Anwen L Roberts
Wales
[07:24 14/10/2007] : In my case, a staff member thought the form was from the national domain registry, actually tracked down the phone number and called the company up. The woman who answered assured my staff member that the services were indeed free and to send in the form. This is a ploy commonly known as 'bait & switch', in which a company 'baits' a customer with an offer of free services, then 'switches' them to a billable service using tactics that include language that is misleading or easily misconstrued. A 'bait & switch' agreement cannot be deemed 'good faith' and in most countries, in order to be binding, a contract must always be entered into 'in good faith'. The language used by these guys may be legal in the sense that they may escape prosecution, but it is not legally binding in court if you contest it. So don't worry. These guys are in the intimidation racket.
Richard Holby
Lille
Note: These opinions do not represent opinions of The Prague Post.
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There is a webiste founded by victims of "The European City Guide" to support other victims and educate the public on similar scams:
http://www.stopecg.org/
Quoting:
"StopECG is implacably opposed to all companies that mail documents that they claim to be legally binding contracts where the document is formulated in such a way as to make it possible that people will sign it in error."
They also offer sample cancellation letter template and complaint channels. It is a very good site for new victims to visit and learn the steps of fighting back! (most of the informaton is more helpful to local European firms though) -
Canadian and American authorities are doing a better in protecting the tax payers, what is CASE in Singapore doing??
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ftc_biz_directories.html
Canadians Charged In Business Directory Scam
March 4, 2005
The Federal Trade Commission has charged several Canadian-based companies and their principals with targeting United States consumers in a scheme to trick them into paying for unordered business directories and listings in the directories. The defendants allegedly scammed numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations out of millions of dollars by billing them for directories and listings they did not order or authorize.
The FTC alleges that when consumers refused to pay the invoices, the defendants turned them over to their collection company that masqueraded as an independent debt-collection agency. This in-house collection company proceeded to harass consumers in an attempt to get them to pay.
According to the FTC?s complaint, the defendants have made unsolicited telemarketing calls to various businesses and organizations across the United States since 2003. The defendants tell consumers that they are merely verifying the consumer?s name, address, and telephone number for a listing in a business directory. The defendants mislead consumers into believing that someone in their organization previously authorized the purchase of the directory and listing.
If consumers are reluctant to verify the listing information, or do not believe that their company has ordered the directory and listing, the defendants assure them that they have a trial period, typically 30 days, during which they can review the directory at no cost. The defendants then record consumers verifying their business information.
The complaint alleges that the defendants subsequently mail invoices to consumers, typically billing them between $349 and $459 for the Commutel Business Directory CD-ROM, and between $249 and $399 for the American Business Solutions Directory CD-ROM. Unlike the defendants? representation in the initial telephone call, however, the invoices list the consumer with whom the defendants spoke as the person who authorized the order.
After receiving these invoices, the FTC alleges, many consumers realize that no one from theirorganization ordered a directory listing. When consumers call to cancel the orders, the defendants claim that the recorded verification call is a ?binding oral contract,? and thus refuse to cancel.
In many instances, according to the complaint, when consumers refuse to pay the invoices, they are referred to the defendants? in-house collection company, which allegedly harasses them with frequent telephone calls, dunning notices, and threats to initiate legal action and damage consumers? credit ratings.
When consumers advise these collecting defendants that they do not owe anything because no one in their organization ordered the business directory and/or listing, or because they were assured that they had a trial period during which they could review the directory, the collecting defendants nevertheless continue their collection efforts. The FTC contends that many consumers ultimately pay the invoices because they believe it is the only way to stop the harassment.
The FTC?s complaint names Global Management Solutions; Commutel Marketing; American Business Solutions; Ty Nguyen, a.k.a. Hiep Manh Nguyen; Cory Kornelson; Byron Steczko; Kelly Nguyen, a.k.a. Phu Minh Huy Nguyen; and Minh Tam Vo. American Business Solutions and Commutel Marketing run telemarketing operations out of Victoria, British Columbia, and Montreal, Quebec. Global Management handles debt collection for American Business Solutions and Commutel Marketing out of Montreal, Quebec.
The federal district court in Washington has granted an order temporarily halting the defendants? business practices and freezing their assets. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2005. In addition, on February 22, 2005, the Victoria Police Department executed a criminal search warrant against the American Business Solutions business premises and arrested Kelly Nguyen, the company president, on fraud charges. The same day, the Canada Competition Bureau executed a criminal search warrant against the Global Management Solutions? and Commutel Marketing?s business premises.
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We really score badly when it comes to scam policing:
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/010557.html
February 23, 2006
FTC Puts Business Directory Scam out of Business
Press release: "A Canadian defendant and his business are permanently banned from selling business directories and listings in those directories to U.S. consumers. To settle the Federal Trade Commission charges they were fraudulently telemarketing directories and listings, the defendant and his mother, another director of the business, will also forfeit all rights to uncashed checks they received because of their scheme. The FTC will be able to return to U.S. consumers those checks that have been seized from the defendants' U.S. mailboxes, worth more than $36,000."
Related Documents: 9125-8954 Quebec Inc., d.b.a. Global Management Solutions, a Canadian corporation; et al., FTC v. (United States District Court Western District of Washington At Seattle), File No. 032-3259, Civil Action No. CV-005-0265
Related FTC resource: Business Directory Scams Try to 'Give You the Business' -
News Report of the Hong Kong Business Pages scam. Note that the director of the Hong Kong Business Pages has the same name as the Director of Singapore Business Pages
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070719/12/2bvas.html
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Another report about the Hong Business Pages which the police is requesting the victims to come forward, wonder why our CAD said they cannot do anything??
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070719/12/2bv2e.html
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wow, this scammer is really very active in Hong Kong, so many people kena.
http://dinapoon829.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477540&page=1 -
Cable TV News report on HKBDL. Hong Kong Business Directories Limited
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=740985 -
Sample Letter to Hong Kong Business Directories
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/HKBDL-Fred/article?mid=7
This is a sample letter that you might consider to send it to the company.
Precaution:
a) This may involve legal issues. Your statement must be factual and true.
b) There shall be some statement not relating to your case, just amend it according to your own story.
c) You must report the case to police. They have received some similar complaints. One additonal complanit from you increase the chance of getting it RIGHT. Your contibution to Hong Kong JUSTICE shall be highly appreciated. -
I cry to see some many people being con by the same scammer.
Where are our police whom we pay tax too?
http://www2.uwants.com/viewthread.php?tid=3808869
http://www2.uwants.com/viewthread.php?tid=3808869 -
Haha nah, you just don't realise how much efforts we put together to push the HK police into action. Yet our police still hasn't been able to curb the scam =( But I am confident that it will happen one day (better sooner than later).
The key element is really the willingness of victims step up and make a loud voice. And of course good coordinators sparing time to gather victims and share updated news is the trigger. Cheers to them all!!! -
can we pay cursing professional to curse the company and the scammers to be jailed soon??
Originally posted by stopthescam:Haha nah, you just don't realise how much efforts we put together to push the HK police into action. Yet our police still hasn't been able to curb the scam =( But I am confident that it will happen one day (better sooner than later).
The key element is really the willingness of victims step up and make a loud voice. And of course good coordinators sparing time to gather victims and share updated news is the trigger. Cheers to them all!!! -
Ha! You can pay me to voodoo the scammers!
Nah I have confident that the society will not tolerate such a scam. It is just a matter of time for those scammers to face trials on charges of fraud. I will mail the "contracts" to their cell in jail so they can wipe their ass with the paper!
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Any news about the court case in Hong Kong?Originally posted by stopthescam:Ha! You can pay me to voodoo the scammers!
Nah I have confident that the society will not tolerate such a scam. It is just a matter of time for those scammers to face trials on charges of fraud. I will mail the "contracts" to their cell in jail so they can wipe their ass with the paper! -
StopThe Scam, Can you post and doc to show who are the directors of Hong Kong Business Pages Limited?Originally posted by stopthescam:Ha! You can pay me to voodoo the scammers!
Nah I have confident that the society will not tolerate such a scam. It is just a matter of time for those scammers to face trials on charges of fraud. I will mail the "contracts" to their cell in jail so they can wipe their ass with the paper!
