Investors cry foul over $10m start-up 'scam'

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#1
Yet another scam! I think someday I may have to start a whole net category on Value Buddies just for scams, seeing how commonplace they are! Extremely dodgy - why do people park their money in such unregulated "investments"? Greed? Huh

The Straits Times
May 28, 2012
Investors cry foul over $10m start-up 'scam'

They claim they were tricked into thinking company was doing well

By Jalelah Abu Baker

THEY thought they were investing in the next Google or Yahoo!, but after sinking more than $10 million into a start-up fronted by an entrepreneur from Hong Kong, a group of Singaporean investors have now lodged a police report alleging the proposal was a scam.

More than 20 investors had put money into a website touted to be the first business-to-business portal for suppliers in the region to market their products in China. But they say the start-up has failed to take off.

Among the investors are a former MP, businessmen and lawyers who requested anonymity to avoid embarrassment. Aged 50 to 60, some are seasoned investors while others are first-timers.

Speaking to The Straits Times, eight of them claimed they were approached by a stockbroker, who used to be a trading representative at a securities firm here, in 2006 and 2007. They said they trusted him as he was senior and had several years of experience.

The Hong Kong businessman in question appeared to have a doctorate and has links with Chinese and Hong Kong officials, they said.

The company that would run the website was described as a professional IT firm specialising in e-business solutions and products. According to a presentation the investors attended here, it had invested millions of dollars over six years to develop the website.

The investors bought the company's pre-IPO shares and were told they would get back manifold returns but were not allowed to see its accounts. They were also offered Hong Kong carpark space as collateral.

While most of the investors knew the Hong Kong businessman through the former stockbroker, one of them, a 51-year-old owner of a materials supplier who invested $500,000, had met the businessman in Japan several years ago. He later attended a seminar the businessman had sponsored at a Singapore university. 'He had a way of talking, and making it seem like he knew many people.'

An independent valuation pegged the company's worth at HK$857 million (S$140 million). Several international advisory members were said to be part of the company.

The investors were also told Hong Kong and Macau entrepreneurs such as Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho were investors.

The businessman even appeared on the cover of a Hong Kong magazine. 'But we found out that it is really easy to get these kinds of magazines produced there,' said another investor, a 52-year-old marketing director who put in $300,000.

Late last year, the investors were told the company was not making money and they could invest in another of his firms. While some of them acknowledge that any investment carries a risk, they claimed the businessman had delayed telling them how the company was doing. They also allege he had tricked them into thinking it was doing well.

They started filing police reports from February. They added that they had been called up for interviews with the Commercial Affairs Department which deals with white-collar crime here.

The former stockbroker, who previously coordinated meetings and handled all administrative jobs here for the businessman, said he himself had made a police report against his former boss.

He claimed he was paid $10,000 per month. He is now working in Malaysia as he said he has suffered damage to his reputation and could not get a job here.

'He forced me to resign, saying the company was not doing well. He shouted vulgarities at meand scolded me,' the former stockbroker said. Attempts to reach the Hong Kong businessman failed.

jalmsab@sph.com.sg
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#2
(28-05-2012, 06:59 AM)Musicwhiz Wrote: Yet another scam! I think someday I may have to start a whole net category on Value Buddies just for scams, seeing how commonplace they are! Extremely dodgy - why do people park their money in such unregulated "investments"? Greed? Huh

Agreed but let's add one more reason on top of the greed.

"The believe that it's different this time."
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#3
Well, if Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho were investors and former MP, astute businessmen and lawyers were investors too, surely this is a good investment?
Guess not ! There is no short cut in due diligence.
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#4
(28-05-2012, 01:35 PM)wsreader Wrote: Well, if Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho were investors and former MP, astute businessmen and lawyers were investors too, surely this is a good investment?
Guess not ! There is no short cut in due diligence.

The accessment seem right Big Grin

"The believe that it's different this time" + Greed

An effective marketing strategy even for astute investors and businessmen

It worked even better with un-confirmed statement of Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho are investors.
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#5
(28-05-2012, 02:21 PM)CityFarmer Wrote:
(28-05-2012, 01:35 PM)wsreader Wrote: Well, if Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho were investors and former MP, astute businessmen and lawyers were investors too, surely this is a good investment?
Guess not ! There is no short cut in due diligence.

The accessment seem right Big Grin

"The believe that it's different this time" + Greed

An effective marketing strategy even for astute investors and businessmen

It worked even better with un-confirmed statement of Mr Richard Li and Mr Stanley Ho are investors.

Yes! basically, all of us have our cognitive bias, fallacies & illusions. We can never say for sure we can see it is a scam/scammer when we meet one. Amen.
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
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#6
I recently read (I think it's from James Montier's speech presented at the 65th annual CFA conference which is also available at GMO's website) that there's some research in neuroscience that shows when people are told that the advice is from experts, their brains stop functioning.

Could explain why so many people fall for scams especially when there's some sort of 'expert' involved.
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#7
Better dont believe in ST/BT too much. They have no guts to report category that S chip is outright fraud. Here they try to highlight that MP has been cheated?

You Believe? I think lots of ex ID are very smart. Good times they are all on the board rubbing the right shoulder! When the accounts went haywire, guess the press avoid mentioning who the IDs were?

How they would help address the issue. All left to SGX to answer? Where is the accountability?


So MP is involve also? Guess they lent their name to give confidence trickster?
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#8
(29-05-2012, 08:52 AM)kazukirai Wrote: I recently read (I think it's from James Montier's speech presented at the 65th annual CFA conference which is also available at GMO's website) that there's some research in neuroscience that shows when people are told that the advice is from experts, their brains stop functioning.

Could explain why so many people fall for scams especially when there's some sort of 'expert' involved.

I recommend a book, "Influence Science and Practice" by Robert B. Cialdini, a well-cover topic of "Authority - Directed Deference"

It is the human natural behaviour of obedience-to-authority that play the trick.
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#9
(29-05-2012, 09:57 AM)CityFarmer Wrote:
(29-05-2012, 08:52 AM)kazukirai Wrote: I recently read (I think it's from James Montier's speech presented at the 65th annual CFA conference which is also available at GMO's website) that there's some research in neuroscience that shows when people are told that the advice is from experts, their brains stop functioning.

Could explain why so many people fall for scams especially when there's some sort of 'expert' involved.

I recommend a book, "Influence Science and Practice" by Robert B. Cialdini, a well-cover topic of "Authority - Directed Deference"

It is the human natural behaviour of obedience-to-authority that play the trick.

Yes i agree. But my personal make-up seems to be i just want to be "myself". And also i like to side the underdogs of society because most of us really are. (That's why i "train" my boy from young don't be afraid of people in uniforms (like the police), they have to go by the law too.)TongueBig Grin
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
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