I July I was looking for gifts to give to my friends. I registered on Alibaba and was contacted by Chinese supplier who offered some non-brand tablet computers and flash drives. A woman using the name, Venus Lee, claimed to represent the company.
The scammer operates a website with the address, www.win-win-elec.com. It advertises consumer electronics. She communicates via the following three email addresses: l_venus@yahoo. Cn, [email protected], [email protected]. She has two phone numbers: (Personal Info Removed) and (Personal Info Removed). The scammer’s known Skype address is: venuswin-win. According to the scammer, Win-win Electronics is a subsidiary of Aqua Pure Industry Company Limited with the address: 12B Electronic Building, Hennessy Road, Hongkong Island, Hong Kong.
As I later found out, Venus Lee is working with others and operates a HSBC bank affiliate account with the following particulars:
Business lntegrated Account Name: AQUA PURE INDUSTRY CO LIMITED
Business lntegrated Account: (Personal Info Removed)
Beneficiary Bank Name: HANG SENG BANK LIMITED
Beneficiary Bank Address: 83 Des Voeux Road Central, Hongkong Island, Hong Kong
SWIFT Address: HASEHKHH (for telegraphic transfers)
Collector: Menglang Liu.
Who could ever think that someone with an account in a well-known bank could be a scammer? I did not. Western Union or personal accounts are well-known channels for money-launderers and crime cartels.By operating bank accounts with established commercial banks, it is easy for scammers to convince doubtful customers that they are genuine. Trusting that it would be safe to transfer cash into an account of a credible banking institution, in July I wired US$500.00 from my bank in the US to Hong kong. As soon as the money was transferred, Lee and Win-win Electronics cut off all contact with me. No emails no phone calls. Tried and tried to contact them and they are simply not responding. This appears to be their modus operandi: They advertise goods. An unsuspecting customer pays into a bank account thinking is is safe and then the scammers simply cut off all contact you. Using the website, www.scamadviser.com, I came to know most scammer’s websites are hosted in the US. Check out any supplier using the said website.
When I knew for sure that my money was lost I used another email address to contact Venus Lee. She responded, hoping to scam another gullible buyer. Venus Lee is still actively seeking to steal others. She recently gave me another account name held by a branch of HSBC holdings in Hong Kong as follows:
Beneficiary Name: (YOULIWEI TECHNOLOGY CO. LIMITED)
Account Number: (Personal Info Removed)
Beneficiary Bank Name: HSBC Hong Kong
Bank Address: 1 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
Bank Code: 004 (for local payment)
SWIFT Address: HSBCHKHHHKH (for telegraphic transfers)
Venus Lee is hoping for more free cash. Venus Lee gave me another account they use for receiving their stolen money. The details are as follows:
A/c no. (personal info removed)
a/c name: menglang liu
bank: bank of china, guangdong branch
swift code: bkchcnbj400
post code: 510180
add: no. 197 dongfeng west road, guangzhou, guangdong, china
How many accounts are these scammers using? Probably dozens of them, all with known banks. It is easy for them to launder money using this scheme. (You might try any potential vendor by contacting him with different email addresses. If they give you two different accounts, it is a clear sign that they are out to scam you. Also, as I learned the hard way, their website emails and contact details are all identified with person. This is a redflag. Www.Scamadviser.com will tell you the age of the website. If it does not match with the number of years the vendor’s website claims to they have been in business, be sure, it is operated by scammers to take away your hard-earned money. After I had been scammed, I contacted Hang Seng Bank and reported the crime. I gave them all the details, but they simply acknowledged receipt of the paperwork. There is no evidence that they intend to do anything about this.
So, if you intend to purchase something using Alibaba.com be ready to lose money. The website is now taken over by scammers. Do not be fooled by the idea that a bank account is a safe way to transfer money. Remember, the big banks are not interested in helping you if you lose money. They will simply acknowledge receiving your complaint and move on. Do not be scammed like I was.
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