To keep thread active, i found someone else who have been scammed, i assume by the same group.
So far, we haven't got anybody who can help us, at least to do something.
As we're not in China anymore, it makes pretty easy to proceed with the scam, foreigners are returning their home countries and can't do anything about the fraud. Just sad.
Dear Jenna,
so sorry i missed your post!
Unfortunately we are already away from Kunming and back in Europe.
If you can still help us to file a complaint, would be great!
I just want to do something rather than nothing (to make this world at least a BIT better place)
I'll send you all documents by email, that they have sent me so far.
Thank you!!
to Long-Dragon:
unfortunately we have no believe in the actual project as we are pretty certain it's a scam.. (according to my last post)
I somehow can't see whole article anymore, so here it is:
(copied)
Architects across Europe, including Lubetkin Prize-winning Gianni Botsford Architects and Cambridge-based Mole, have been targeted by an alleged Chinese scam
The studios, who together are designing a 71,000 square metre resort in Hsinchu, Taiwan, were separately told they had won a luxury 130-unit villa development in Kunming, southwest China and invited to the country to sign a contract.
Believing it could be 'too good to be true', the companies contacted the China-Britain Business Council, which said it was 'certain it was a scam' and advised against the meeting.
Botsford said: 'The scam, we are told, is usually to get you to China, to wine and dine you, to get you to pay for everything (they say it shows respect), to go to a special shop to buy gifts, and the following day, on signing the contract, to pay a lawyer's fee of between $5,000 and $10,000.
'On returning from what seemed a successful trip, you find they have all disappeared, do not answer calls and emails, and you do not, in fact, have a contract.'
The AJ understand architects in Italy have also been targeted.
In 2010, a group of architects in New York fell victim to a similar swindle involving an office tower and housing scheme in China's Henan province. Botsford said he felt 'very foolish' because searching the internet proved such scams were common.
A UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) spokesperson advised 'due diligence when trading in China'. The UKTI's trade services partner for mainland China, the China-Britain Business Council also offers company checks to verify the legal status of Chinese outfits.
How the scams work:
A plausible but poorly specified request for a quote is received, often by fax using convincing letterheads
The value is usually above £500,000. Terms are often favourable with up to a 30 or 50 per cent proposed down-payment with minimal negotiation
The supplier is invited to China to sign the contract. Large sums may be required to 'smooth procedures'
Once in China there may be negotiations involving demands for commission and/or cash payments or gifts. Meetings may take place in genuine-looking offices. Contracts may be signed
Back in the UK, the initial payment is not received.Communication ceases and any cash parted will be lost
Source: CBBC
to laotou:
I guess latest replies haven't read my first post, which included this link:
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/[...]
So yes of course it's fraud and some of the so called companied have been prosecuted in China for the same thing (like i read from another article)
Our story is exactly the same like article scam describes:
How the scams work
- A plausible but poorly specified request for a quote is received, often by fax using convincing letterheads
(they composed us contract instead of asking a quote)
- The value is usually above £500,000. Terms are often favourable with up to a 30 or 50 per cent proposed down-payment with minimal negotiation
(for such a large scale project like they offered, amount was about the same, consisted different parts)
- The supplier is invited to China to sign the contract. Large sums may be required to 'smooth procedures'
Once in China there may be negotiations involving demands for commission and/or cash payments or gifts.
(they asked to buy and pay for the gifts)
- Meetings may take place in genuine-looking offices. Contracts may be signed
(exactly the same and contract was signed)
- Back in the UK, the initial payment is not received. Communication ceases and any cash parted will be lost.
(exactly the same, no promised first payment, instead asking us to transfer remittance free upfront from whole amount to private account)
Hope i made my story a bit more clear. I just didn't want to add whole information right away, as we already been scammed..
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