Hong Kong phone scam using fake TV lucky draw

Anyway, it never really occurred to me that scammers can be that persistent, normally, I would think that they would call you once and try to extract as much money as they can from you within the first encounter. However, this phone scammer uses what we call social engineering to create doubt in your believe that its a scam and trust in the person.

When I initially received the call, it was some lady with very standard China Chinese accent talking to me, I normally did not pay attention to such call and was just listening but doing something else. She introduced her company in Chinese which I could not make up and when I asked for the English name, I couldn’t make it up neither due to her pronounciation. She was talking about introducing her company products to me, which I have no idea what and was waiting for her to tell me… but anyway, I was really listening. Didn’t know how the conversation ended, but it was cordial and she thanked me for taking the time.

The 2nd time, a lady called again and reminded me that we spoke before and talked excitingly about a program in some Asian TV channel which did not make sense to me which channel it was. She keep reminding me that I should watch their inaugural program on TV or something like that. Again, I was not listening, I never really listen to sale people on the phone. The 2nd time ended cordially again and she thanked me and reminded me to watch their program. Oh, I think she gave me some lucky draw number or something like that.

After a long time, I got a call again, today. This time she told me if I had watch the program and I said no and that I had no time. She said that I won a big sum of money (she did say how much, but I never listened) in HKD and its about SGD 110,000. Anyone, would have jumped for joy, but was totally emotionless. For one thing, I know my own damn luck with money and luck draws. Anyway, I asked about her company and how I got into the draw and she asked if I had purchase electronics or gadget in the last five years (who don’t?) and the collected these from the warranty forms.

Then she ask why I was not happy to get this price and asks me how I want to spend the money. She asks if I don’t believe her. I said I will decide when I have it.  By now, my scam radar started up, but had some doubts because until now they had not asked for money from me and had called me a few times. Anyway, she was saying whether I want to collect it myself or should they bank to me, so I said I will collect it. She started to give me the address “Hong Kong….” and I said in that case send it over to me. I was still very emotionless at the point and she asks if its because I don’t believe her and that there are a lot of scam stories going around and she added that I will believe her when I see the money in my bank and I will thank here and bring her out to dinner next time I visit Hong Kong.

So I asked her what I need to give her, so said she need to prove of my identity and my bank account to transfer the money and they will transfer the money in by tomorrow. So I gave her my real name, but I told her that did not have my POSB bank account with me.  She said the numbers on the card would usually do, I like “Uh?” on my account is on my POSB card, the numbers don’t look like it. Anyway, I told her that I will need to call her back when I get the account number and she gave me her name as Xiu Man Xing and number +852 307 83335.

So I came home and did a search about Hong Kong phone scams and came to this page:

http://shimworld.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/hong-kong-scam-alert/

And interesting enough a comment on this page describes EXACTLY what happened to me almost word for word, except that I had not given her my bank account number yet.

Hi Jan, Thanks for your post. I almost got scam the same way and it just happen. Means they have not stop it, even worst if this is another copy cat company.

Here’s my story. I got a call also by a lady who sound like from mainland china, her name is 许慢心 she said i have bought some electronic product either from sony or panasonic and was entitled a lucky dip 2000 was selected from singapore, 2000 selected from malaysia and 2000 from Hong Kong. I got 3rd prize together with 3 other people. Total cash price of HKD$650,000.00. The other 2 from HK already got their prize money on the spot when the TV programm was air on CCTV on the 13 of sept 2009, and even the Malaysia winner also got his money, now they are wondering how come after so long i did not claim my prize, so They call me up to check. So I ask her how do you varitfy that the winner is me when u never ask me for my identity number or passport number. She could not give me a very good reply, reply to keep saying that is it I don’t believe her. She say my name is correct and my phone number is correct right so it must be me. She also say that i have a lucky number 37527 which they pick out form the draw. It’s their company 18 year anniversary draw. While talking to me on the phone trying to convince me that she understand that there are lots of scam company out there and it’s only normal that i don’t believe her, she also put me on hold and answered another phone call which a customer call in to order some products from them. Company name is 日晨有限公司, address is 九龙湾道，158-160号，吉心大厦, 5 floor and 6 floor. Phone number: +85230783335. Finally to a point i ask her what she need from me? Is it first i must give her some money first. She ask for my bank account number, full name and birthday. Which i also gave her thinking that it’s no harm. She end to call by telling me that once i receive i will believe and must call her to thank her, even if next time i go HK must go buy her dinner, even ask me have i thought of how to spend this money. She also tell me i have to pay a 15% of my price money for HK goverment tax. So when the prize money is converted to Singapore dollars i should get S$118,900.00, the Tax i need to pay to HK is S$17,835.00. But i only need to pay this tax one week after i have received the money. Sounds ok so far right.

Day 2: The so call manager a male called me to double check my bank account number, name and birth date, Than told me he will go to the bank to remit the money to me right away and ask me to go to the bank one hour later to check and print out an account balance and fax it to them so that they can proceed with the tax form…. As you can guess i wait checking my the ATM every 2 hours but nothing happen.

Day 3: I have already given up hope that this is for real, but still decided to call 许慢心 to tell her i no longer believe her and that she is fake, but when i call, she act shock to hear that i have not gottan my money, she say she thought i already got it and happily spending it. After hearing form me she say she will double check with her manager. By 4pm she call back and told me that the bank has close but they will check and her manager will get back to me the next day.

Day 4: She call me again, this time to tell me that the bank rejected the transfer because I am not a HK citizen so in order to pay the HK tax i got to authorise their company to pay this tax for me. And to do that, i have to make a 4% payment of my prize money S$4756.00 to this accounting firm appointed by HK Goverment. Company name 世华国际联合律师事务所 address: 香港九龙旺角大厦12 floor. Account number : 7860-0362-4888 name of account : Wan Yu Ng Lung. Bank name: Hang Seng Bank limited. When i ask how come the account name is not the company name, and is there any document they can fax me to show me that this amount i remit over is for what purpose, for more information about both the company and what are their english name… she don’t dare to review anymore.

At the end she still call me and say wanna give you money but since u don’t believe can don’t remit this S$4756.00 and give up my price money. I said fine. I don’t want the money.

For readers who read this post by me, please don’t get scam by these people be extra careful, if you wanna check does their company exist you can go to this website by HK goverment to check. http://www.cr.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm than click on the bottom first icon that says ” company informantion check” than follow the instruction and type in the company name and you will know if which ever company really register themself in HK or not. I have also for Jan’s advise and email to Hang Seng Bank about this matter, if i do get a respond from them be sure i will post it here for everyone to read.

Thanks
Almost victim
Dolly Soh