Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Terrified girl jumps out of moving cab

A 21-year-old woman, fearing she was being abducted by a cab driver, jumped out of the moving vehicle in Seremban on Monday. The girl was travelling to Mantin with her mother and sister and had boarded the taxi in Jalan Bandar Tunggal, Tamil Nesan reported. However, a short distance away, the mother asked the taxi driver to stop outside a grocery store where she and her other daughter wanted to buy some provisions. As soon as the two passengers got down, the driver accelerated towards Jalan Temiang. Frightened at being left alone in the taxi, the woman opened the door and jumped out. Passers-by rushed her to the hospital, where she was treated for her injuries. (Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/3/nation/11217155&sec=nation, dated 3-May, 2012.)

Unsafe Ampang Point

Source: http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyScene/PropertyScene/21139/0/0 dated 3-May, 2012. AFTER years of operating at the Ampang Point commercial centre, the business community and shopowners no longer feel safe or secure due to many break-ins and robberies that not only happens during the night but in broad daylight as well. Grilles, doors and office locks do not stop the thieves, bags are snatched from customers eating at restaurants, car windows get smashed after a visit to the bank, pharmacies are robbed despite being equipped with CCTV cameras, and even children centres and IT companies are being broken into and robbed of laptops, cameras and cash. There have been too many cases and police reports made, but so far the criminal activities are still rampant and cases unresolved. Even houses in the Ampang residential area have not been spared. Ampang now has too many unsavoury characters; many liquor and medicine bottles can be found littered near the shops in the morning. The business community and owners will feel much safer if there is a 24-hour police booth in the centre of Ampang Point open carpark. More police patrol around the shops at night would deter break-ins and snatch thieves. We hope that by having a police presence in the community will help to reassure us of our safety, not only with regards to the properties but for each and every individual in the area. We sincerely hope that the Ampang police will look into our plight. BB, Ampang Point

Saturday, January 14, 2012

When informed decisions go awry

Making investments with money you don’t have and with information you should not be privy to is both morally and legally wrong

LAST year, a young entrepreneur turned property investor lost his business outfit. Although his monthly income fluctuated somewhat month-to-month, he was able to get loans from the banks to finance his purchases, which he had incrementally amassed to about 10 over the years.

He was able to have a selection of properties because of the nature of his work which allowed him to source and research the sector and related industries. He was also a quick and adept student of the market and its trends, because like many Malaysians, he was interested in bricks and mortar as an investment instrument. It is uncertain how he will pay for all of them today.

Because of Malaysians’ great love for properties, there is the tendency to buy multiple units, each in succession when the previous purchase is not yet fully paid for. While there is nothing wrong with this strategy – some of us are more comfortable with properties than with other forms of investment instruments – these “assets” can become a financial millstone. Quite a number of Malaysians bought multiple units at one go, sometimes in the same project because they have faith in the developer. Or they buy into the same segment, for example, condominiums.

If one has the means to hold on to these investments over the long term, there may not be an issue. The danger of multiple property purchases – and ownership – comes during a down cycle.

A couple of years ago when the property prices were steadily moving up, Malaysians’ enchantment with the property market resulted in various courses being offered by property experts.

Nearly, if not all of them, were millionaires because of earlier property investments and they were offering courses to teach how one can become rich, like themselves.

However, the scenario then and the scenario today has changed drastically. It may not be possible to use the same strategy they had used. Like any investment, and at any one point in time, there are risks involved. But over and above taking a risk, there is something known as moral hazard. When risks become too high, the action taken by an investor may be hazardous and the probability of failure becomes very high. An action becomes morally hazardous when an investor makes a decision to do something assuming that he has a safety net.

Lately, there was a case where a spouse had bought two luxury condominiums with money that did not belong to him. Because properties at the time enjoyed high returns, he bought multiple units in Malaysia and Singapore. When the case came to light, he stressed that his wife, a public figure, is not involved.

A couple may not be a single entity from the legal standpoint. However, the reality is that the action of one will have a bearing on the other.

This was clearly seen early this week when the chairman of the Swiss National Bank, equivalent to our Bank Negara, resigned. Less than a week ago, he had denied any wrongdoing in a currency scandal that involved his wife.

The Financial Times reported that Philipp Hildebrand’s wife had in September 2011 bought US$500,000 before the Swiss National Bank, headed by her husband, imposed a ceiling on the appreciating Swiss francs to halt its rise. Because Swiss francs was appreciating so quickly, the greenback became “cheap” by comparison. The move by the central bank sent the Swiss francs down sharply. She sold the dollars one month later. She bought the US dollar cheap and sold high.

Hildebrand had earlier rejected calls to resign. When he did, he said: “I came to the conclusion that it’s not possible for me to deliver a definite proof that my wife requested the currency transation without my knowledge.”

His wife said she failed her husband because she had not considered the perception of a “conflict of interest.”

After his resignation, he asked rhetorically: “Can you live a dollar lifestyle, or a partly dollar lifestyle, like ours, and still be a central bank governor?”

That is an interesting question. It is a question of self examination that comes to each of us, at one point or another, sometimes many times over.



·Assistant news editor Thean Lee Cheng ponders: Should the action of a spouse have far reaching consequences on the “innocent” half? Should one profit from one’s vocation because of some privileged information?

(Source: http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyScene/PropertyScene/18287/0/0, date accessed 15-January, 2012.)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Internet Scam

Lucky break for man in online scam

KUALA LUMPUR: A man’s request to Datuk Michael Chong for a loan to claim a parcel of gifts, saved him from falling victim to an Internet scam.

The kitchen help from Klang had earlier been told that he had a parcel waiting for him at a courier service company from a woman he got to know through an Internet-dating site on Dec 1 but he was to pay £2,500 (RM12,350) for “overweight charges”.

The 27-year-old man then went to the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head to borrow the money.

“Only when I asked him what the money was for, he told me the whole story. He even offered to share the amount in the parcel with me!” Chong said.

The man had been waiting for the parcel – purportedly containing £100,000 (RM494,000) in cash, a laptop, gold Rolex wristwatch, iPhone4, Blackberry Playbook, pictures, postcards, shoes and football jerseys – from a London-based “Latifah Razak”.

(Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/11/nation/10077342&sec=nation dated Sunday December 11, 2011.)


RM1mil lost to online lover
By LOSHANA K SHAGAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: An insurance broker received a rude shock when she lost more than RM1mil in an Internet scam.

The woman, identified only as Lim, 47, gave RM1,021,000 in total to Kevin Axcel Brown @ Joe, whom she “met” in an online matchmaking site in September.

Joe claimed he was a 48-year-old Canadian chemical engineer with Petronas in Tereng­ganu and had used different telephone numbers to communicate.

MCA’s Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said most cases of Internet fraud involved promises of joint business ventures and marriage.

“There have been 13 cases of Internet fraud this year and nine of the victims were female.

“None of them had seen their scammers’ faces and yet could fall in love with them,” Chong added.

Joe had asked Lim for a RM1mil loan last October to settle his financial troubles and she deposited it into three different bank accounts registered under the name of Zanariah.

He then said he was abroad, but asked her to meet him at KLIA on Dec 7.

She waited for four hours in vain.

She had also transferred an extra US$7,000 (RM21,000) for Joe’s travel expenses.

Besides her savings, Lim had also borrowed from friends, family and financial organisations to raise the RM1mil.

Chong advised the public to be more careful as scammers had developed new tactics to con their victims.

“They show fake approval letters and even tap into an organisation’s phone number,” he said, showing two “support letters” Joe used to convince Lim.

The case comes after reports of a new telephone scam demanding victims to give “donations” allegedly for Barisan Nasional’s election fund.

The “Bukit Aman police scam” began three weeks ago with victims receiving phone calls from a number registered under the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters.

A “Datuk Halim” from the Commercial Crime desk would inform victims of a money laundering charge against them and ask them to deposit money in an account for the election fund.

Three near-victims approached Chong, who said there had been at least eight similar cases this year.

“They claimed to be acting on the Prime Minister’s orders and asked between RM3,000 and RM5,000 from each victim,” Chong said.

Telephone scam losses amounted to more than RM1.5mil this year, while Internet fraud losses stand at RM1.8mil.

(Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/10/nation/10070014&sec=nation dated Saturday December 10, 2011.)

The ‘make’ or ‘break’ element

WORKABLE TIPS By PAUL KARA

Prospective job seekers should not only be mindful of the do’s and dont’s at interviews but also the power of the social media.

MY DAY begins with a cup of coffee and the laptop in front of me. I usually check all my e-mails before switching over to the social media to see what the rest of the world has been up to, when I was asleep.

One morning, while scrolling through the Facebook (FB) wall, I was suddenly awakened, not by my coffee, but by what was staring at me on the screen. It was the picture of a male’s behind with his trousers pulled down revealing some flesh!

I would not have batted an eyelid and would have dismissed it as a drunken prank, but I could not. That image happened to be on the FB account of one of my company’s new employees who was still on probation! While my “liberal” side was holding me back from reacting, the “corporate” side of me felt that it was rather inappropriate since I was in a business which dealt with image building.

That thought was not mine alone as it soon became a topic of discussion among the company’s staff members and managers. Eventually I took this up as a case study and discussed it with my corporate contemporaries.
Job applicants must try to conceal their tattoos during job interviews and refrain from posting inappropriate pictures of themselves on social media sites.

Many of them were in support of the young man saying that it was his personal space and that he should be allowed to say “whatever he wants” in his FB account.

However, one cannot run away from the fact that displaying such an image does influence the kind of impression others would have of him. Also, bear in mind that emplo-yers have their private space too.

The FB can either make or break a person. Many potential employers use social media sites to check out job applicants. Some of my clients have told me that they have also gotten impressed with prospective employees simply by checking out the applicants on FB.

There are always tell-tale signs from the photos and wall entries to help with the assessment of a person’s character. My clients have been impressed by some of the photos they see of their interviewees such as hobbies in photography, cake decoration, postings on charity outings and outdoor activities.

So pretty much like the mohawk hairstyles, earrings and tatoos, how do employers view such liberties? Sometimes when graduates leave college or university, they forget that in the job market such liberties are not taken to kindly.

In a typical corporation, the manager is most likely to think that such people may be rebels and may have issues with the organised structure that is typical of the corporate environment.

Many young job applicants may think otherwise and believe that earrings, tattoos and fancy hair colour is a show of independence and expression. While I do not believe this is entirely wrong, it is a risk to take, especially when first impressions matter. A general manager told me that he viewed anyone who wore a cap indoors or who had a pair of sunglasses over their heads as disrespectful and rude.

When he was shortlisting his candidates for management trainees, he would weed out such individuals even before they were interviewed. It looked like he was biased, but he was the employer and had the right to do so.

The first impression is the key to making the potential employer consider you soon after the interview and which will determine whether you eventually get the job.

A sales manager recently said the first thing he did after he had shortlisted his candidates for the interview was to “… google the applicant’s name. It is incredible what you can find.”

After having said what needs to be done to take a safe path in a job interview, it does not mean that employers are unaware of the potential of the Generation Y workforce.

This is the generation that believes in the motto “live first ,work later”. They also have strong views on “rights” and working for the community.

Employers are impressed by the aspects of asserting rights and CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects which are very much community-based.

Most employers have an idea as to what to expect from the Gen Y workforce, but they somehow resent the manner in which these young job applicants communicate and convey their demands and interests.

So if you are a Gen Y “amoeba”, you may want to keep in mind the following suggestions in order to get that interview. Also make sure you don’t have bad body odour, lie about your qualifications, or gripe about your ex-boss. Remember that when you have a mohawk hairstyle, try to comb it down and remove the earrings at least for the interview. The employer will notice your effort and will interpret it as a gesture of respect for the interview.

It is easier to introduce these additions once you have established yourself in the company.

Be sure to weigh the consequences carefully before you decide to use the social media channel to air your grievances about current or former employers. Find out which aspect of the company would make you shine with your Gen Y qualities. It is not wrong to assert your rights; you just need to find the right forum.

■ Paul Kam is a lawyer by training. He has worked with private and public sector leaders throughout Asia and has designed and led several transformation, alignment and strategic change initiatives. With his understanding of market conditions in various industries, he is passionate in partnering with clients to shift and align mindsets and behaviours of leaders and employees. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Management and is a certified team profiler and a life and wealth coach.

(Source: http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2011/12/11/education/10044684&sec=education dated Sunday December 11, 2011.)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Seattle welfare recipient lives in million-dollar home

By Eric Pfeiffer | The Sideshow

A Seattle woman who is receiving welfare assistance from Washington state also happens to live in a waterfront house on Lake Washington worth more than a million dollars.

The 2,500 square-foot home, which includes gardens and a boat dock, is valued at $1.2 million. And even though the couple has been receiving the benefits for nearly 10 years, records show that they accurately listed the address of their current home when applying for the state and federal benefits.

As if the million dollar home weren't enough, the supposedly low-income couple also gave money to various charities and traveled around the world to locales in Turkey, Tel Aviv and resort towns in Mexico, according to court records.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/seattle-welfare-recipient-lives-million-dollar-home-161252749.html dd 6-December, 2011.

HOW TO LOCK YOUR CAR AND WHY!

I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!

Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation. I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away. I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars.

Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening. While traveling, my friend's son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase--you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic--there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device.

They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door by hitting the lock button inside the car--that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you!

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be
instantly stolen. This is very real.

Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this email on.
Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them-- and bingo, someone has our code and whatever was in our car!

Snopes Approved--Please share with everyone you know!

This is from my friend Wan, Message flagged
Sunday, January 9, 2011 10:34 PM.

VERY IMPORTANT FOR TRAVELLERS- A MUST READ

Note: This is sent to me by my friend Wan on Sunday, January 9, 2011 10:48 PM. I am clearing up my Mail Box so I just post it here.

BE CAREFUL WHEN TRAVELLING - China / Bangkok / Malaysia

From my Malaysian friend...better to prevent.
Be very careful. The scammers are getting more and more daring!

Subject: Duped by credit card scam upon check in at Hotel

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for
your room). You get to your room and settle in. Someone calls the front
desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room).

Your phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other
end says the following, 'This is the front desk. When checking in, we
came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read
me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the
reverse side of your charge card.

Not thinking anything you might give this person your information, since
the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam
of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk. They ask for a random

room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information.
Sounding so professional that you do think you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller
that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then,
go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none,
inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your
credit card information acting like a front desk employee.

If you feel that the tips are useful, please forward it to your relatives, friends & colleague.


Subject: Bangkok International Airport

Folks, be warned and be really careful, check the items you bought and
give back what does not belong to you even when the shop assistants
claimed it's 'free'. I believe the duty free shop assistants would also
get a share........so, be very, very careful. Read below

My Dept. secretary informed on this. Her cousin was detained in Bangkok
for stealing a box of cigarettes in a duty-free shop in Bangkok
International Airport .

He had paid for chocolates and a carton of cigarettes. The cashier put a
packet of smokes into his bag and he thought it was a free pack.

He was arrested for shop-lifting and the Thai Police extortion price was
equivalent to RM30, 000 for his release. He spent two nights in jail and paid RM50 for
an air-con cell, 200-300 baht for each visitor, and RM11,000 for his
final release.

The Police shared the money in front of his eyes. On top of that, he was
charged in court and fined RM2,000 by the magistrate and handcuffed and
escorted to his plane.

His passport was stamped "Thief". While there, his relatives requested
help from the Malaysian Embassy and was told that they are helpless, as
Malaysians are victimised similarly daily and letters and phone-calls to
the Thai Authorities are ignored. He shared a cell with a Singaporean
the 1st night who paid RM60,000 for his release.The 2nd night was an
Indian national who paid USD70,000. Mind you this is not in a shag
downtown Bangkok but in a duty free shop in Bangkok 's Int'l
Airport . Please share this experience with all your friends.


Subject: Driving to JB

If you get RM 10.00 in your car door handle, use tissue paper or cloth
to remove it without opening it and if possible bag it. Drive away immediately.
Don't check the note until you are in the company of your friends or relatives.
The note could either contain powdered drugs to knock you out or make
you wonder if some guilty motorists compensating you for a knock or
scratch on your car, while you are still wondering, the robber(s) will
attack you as you check the car.

This had happened in Johor. Please circulate to your friends and warn them!.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Law of the Garbage truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in
the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right
in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by
just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started
yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, "Hey, why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car
and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what
I now call : 'Law of the Garbage Truck'.

He said, "You know, many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full
of garbage - full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, so sometimes they'll dump it on you."

His advice? "Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't pick up the garbage others are trying to get rid of. If you do, you'll take
it with you and will end up dumping it on people around you, at work, at home, or on the streets."

If you want to be happy, do not let garbage trucks - your own or other people's - overtake your day. Let go anything that's not positive. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Have a Jolly Good day ahead!!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

瞭解危疾保險內容‧真正享有生活保障

* 健康軒 2010-11-28 15:30

(Source: http://ladyzone.sinchew-i.com/node/2332, accessed 2010-11-30)

最近網上流傳一則新聞,講述一名新加坡女子不幸罹患初期乳癌,可是她購買的三項醫療和危疾保險卻未能作出理賠,這讓她感到百思不得其解,到底問題出在哪里?

追根究底,原來是消費人在簽下保單時,往往對保單的內容不求甚解,影響日後的索賠程序,基於個人的疏忽而徒添失望。

和一般人士一樣,這名女子以為購買的越多保險,獲得的保障就越多,而且她每月須繳付高達600新元的保費。

就在今年6月,她不幸被診斷患上初期乳癌,經歷12小時的手術後,她總算保住了自己性命。手術康復後,她立刻向有關保險公司提出危疾保險的索賠申請,於是將有關病例和相關手續呈交保險公司。

然而,她的索賠申請被拒絕了。經過向保險經紀員的再三查問,她才發現早前簽下的保單是不涵蓋“乳管原位癌(Ductal Carcinoma in Situ,簡稱DCIS)”的疾病,這疾病是發生於乳管的一種非侵犯性(noninvasive)的極早期乳癌。

她以為購買了3項醫療和危疾保險,就可以在任何情況下獲得保障,但是事實並非如她所想象。大馬保誠保險產品及行銷總裁邢詒旺針對上述事件表示,顧客在考慮購買保單時,應向保險業務人員了解每一個細節和詳情,以免日後在申請索賠的時候碰釘子。

“至於危疾保險的理賠事宜,每個國家都是根據統一的標準作為理賠的原則。在大馬,危疾保險是根據大馬壽險協會(LIAM)所制定的“危疾”定義作為理賠標準。”

他舉例,原位癌DCIS是屬于非侵犯性的早期癌癥,並不被列入在危險疾病的定義范圍中,因此若投保人的危疾保險沒有涵蓋原位癌的保障,保險公司有權利不做出任何理賠。

他呼吁大眾在購買疾病保險時,切記弄清楚自己想要獲得怎樣的保障,才決定購買那一種保險計劃。消費人在簽保之前,可以要求保險代理員一一解釋保單的所有保障、不保事項、索賠數額、條款及細則等等,以免發生不愉快的事情。

核對醫療保險計劃清單

考慮購買醫療保險時,您應該向保險業務員查詢的問題:

1. 我可以獲得什么保障?住院和手術保險、疾病保險、住院入息保險計劃、收入損失保險(Disability income plan)還是保障女性的醫療保險。

2. 我的保障期有多久、是否設有最高保障限額?了解所有保障、不保事項、條款及細則,尤其向保險經紀員了解不承保的事項,以讓索賠過程順利進行。

3. 我的醫療保險是否屬于共同保險(co-insurance)?共保是指保險人和投保人共同承擔賠償金,例如若以10/90的方式進行,即保險公司付90%的費用,投保人只須付其余10%。

4. 我的家庭成員患有心臟病的歷史,我是否應該如實申報病歷?當購買醫療保險時,應該如實地申報病歷。若投保人沒有申報有關病歷,日後若被診斷相同病情,保險公司有權力不做出任何理賠。

5. 若保單不适合該怎么辦?所有保險公司都有提供“15日審閱期”,要是在指定期間發現新保單不合適,保險公司將原銀奉還您的保費。須符合條規。

6. 我該在什么時候購買醫療保單?醫療保險計劃愈早作出部署愈好,並建議一年一次定期檢討本身的計劃以應付通貨膨脹、醫藥費高漲等問題。若有需要,可考慮加保以獲更全面的保障。

PRUlady讓妳從容面對生活起落

邢詒旺指出,保誠保險旗下有特別為女性而設的PRUlady智慧女性保障計劃,為女性提供全面保障。

保障包括一般女性疾病、腎炎引發的全身性紅斑狼瘡、因意外而接受面部修正外科、乳房或子宮頸原位癌和妊娠并發癥及初生嬰兒等保障項目。

此外,此計劃的保障也包括因意外燒傷或患皮膚癌而需接受植皮手術,投保人可靈活選擇所需要的保障,因應自己的需要充分運用金錢,更符合經濟原則。

PRUlady智慧女性保障計劃也支付各式人生的重大利益,包括結婚利益、分娩利益、解雇利益、離婚利益及喪偶利益。於滿期日,該計劃將在扣除之前曾經做出的任何索賠後,退還所有繳交的保費餘額。

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

LATEST CON JOB IN SINGAPORE

Just happen in Singapore ...

Hi everyone,

I want to let you all know that Frank and I have been the victims of credit card fraud this week and felt I should warn you all about the clever scam.. It works like this:

Last Wednesday I had a phone call late morning from Express Couriers to ask if I was going to be home as he had a delivery for me. He said he would there in roughly an hour. He turned up with a beautiful basket of flowers and wine. I expressed my surprise as I wasn't expecting anything like this and said I was intrigued to know who was sending me such a lovely gift. He said he was only delivering the gift and the card was being sent separately (the card has never arrived).There was a consignment note with the gift.

He went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol he has to charge the recipient $3.50 as proof that he has actually delivered to an adult, and not left it on a door step if the recipient is out, to be stolen or taken by children. This seemed logical and I offered to get the cash.

He then said that the company required the payment to be by EFTPOS so he's not handling cash and everything is properly accounted for.

Frank was there and got his credit card and 'John' swiped the card on this small mobile machine that also had a small screen upon which Frank entered in his pin number. A receipt was printed out and given to us.

Between last Thursday and Monday $4,000 was withdrawn from our credit account at ATM machines in the north shore area. It appears a dummy credit card was made using the details in the machine and of course, they had Frank's pin number. The Bank has stopped our cards and I've been to the Police this morning, where they confirmed that it is a definite scam and many households were hit during the first 3 days of October.

So PLEASE be wary of accepting a gift you're not expecting especially if the card is not with it. We've all received gifts like this and would never dream that it could be such a despicable act. Please also let other female friends and relatives know. Hopefully, these fraudsters have ceased this activity by now but you never know.

FRAUD TACTICS

Someone shared the following cases :

(1) Today I passed by a building which has an ATM machine. There was an old man looking at me. Suddenly, he called me. He said he didn't know how to read, so he gave me his ATM card and asked me to help him withdraw money from the ATM machine. I answerd 'NO!! If you need help, ask the security to help you.' Then he said 'nevermind..' and continued to find other people to help him...

REMEMBER : ATM machines have CCTVs. If you help him he will later claim that you have robbed him or stolen his ATM card. Besides, his ATM card could
be a stolen one. So please be careful of these tactics.

(2) Suddenly your house lights go off. From your window you find that your neighbours still have lights. So you go out of your house to check the Meter Box. But once you open the door, a knife will be pointing at you and preventing you from closing it. This is when you will be robbed and injured.

REMEMBER : Even though your electricity suddenly goes off, DO NOT open your door immediately. Look around to see if there is anything unusual
or if there is any noise around.


(3) This is another incident. You may have heard it before, it is about a lady who she saw a kid crying by the roadside. When she spoke to the kid, the kid told her he was lost and wanted her to take him home. The kid even gave her a paper with his house address. So she took him home. But when she rang the door bell, she had an electric shock. Later when she woke up, she was naked in an empty room.

REMEMBER : Being such a compassionate and helpful person might not be a good thing these days. Pass this on and girls, please be careful..
DON'T BE TOO KIND!!


(4) One day, there was an old lady outside my house holding 2 packets of sweets. At first I thought she was our neighbour and wanted to give us these packs of sweets as a gift. But then when she spoke, I can realised that she was foreigner. I could not understand what she was talking about. I guessed she must be asking for money. I sensed there was something wrong and immediately closed the door and ignored her. Later, I found she and an accomplice robbed someone else down the road.

(5) I was at the ATM machine to withdraw some money. Behind me, there was an old lady. She asked me whether I was able to withdraw my money because she said she had problem with her machine.

Suddenly a small girl came up beside me. The small girl was squeezing in front of me. I thought she was just naughty and playful. But then, the small girl put her hand at the tray of the ATM machine where the money comes out, ready to take away my money. I sensed something wrong and immediately pushed her away. Later I realised that the small girl and the old lady worked together. She was trying to steal my money while the old lady was trying to distract my attention by asking me questions!

REMEMBER: BE VERY CAREFUL when you are at an ATM machine and be alert.
Look out for anyone suspicious around you!


(6) My parents are retired and stay at home most days. One afternoon, a young stranger went to their house and said his motorcycle had no more petrol and the petrol station was too far for him to push his bike there. So he asked my parents for an empty coke bottle to buy some petrol. He said he will pay RM2 for the bottle. So my mum took one coke bottle for him. He really took out the money from his pocket, but it was a RM 100 note. He told my mum he had no small change and asked my mum to give him the change. Luckily my mum was smart. She just told him to take it for free.

REMEMBER : obviously that note is fake!! Who would want to pay for RM2 for an empty coke bottle!! It's very OBVIOUS that that stranger is a trickster.


(7) This happened in Bali. A newly married couple were having their honeymoon at the hotel. When both are in the changing room, the wife suddenly went missing. The husband was very anxious and went around to find her. He asked the hotel staff to help him find her. Then he thought his wife was just playing hide and seek. So he went back and waited for his wife. After a few hours, he decided to call the police. 3 weeks passed and there was still no news about his missing wife. So he went back and was very disappointed and sad.

A few years later, he came back to Bali, to watch a 'FREAK SHOW' in an old house. He saw a dirty and rusty metal cage.
Inside there was a lady without limbs. Her body including the face was full of scars. When he had a closer look at her face, he was shocked to find that it was her missing wife put there as a means for begging.

(8) This happened in Shanghai. A few years ago, a lady reported to the police that her cousin sister was missing in the shopping complex. But after 5 years, one of her friends found her cousin sister begging at the road side one of the streets in Bangkok, Thailand. The worst thing is that her cousin sister has no more limbs and her body was tied to a lamp post with a shackle (metal chain).

(9) Let's just shorten this story. DO NOT open your house door when you hear the sound of a BABY CRYING!! It might be a trap! Women in the house must be alert to this trick. The police said it is the work of a robber or murderer using the recording of a baby crying to attract your attention.
This normally happens at night and when you are alone in the house.

(10) I read an email that was sent by my friend. Her friend, known as A, went to Luo Hu CommercialCitywith 2 friends, B and C. Luo Hu Commercial City is the Shenzhen counterfeit goods distribution center. There are many people there. It's also near to the ShenZhen train station and Hong Kong's
Luo Hu Port.

C went to the toilet at the shopping centre while A and B waited outside. After waiting for a long, time they felt uneasy and went into the toilet to look for her. When they went in, there was nobody inside. Both were scared and they called C's phone. There was no reply. So they reported to the police. The police asked them whether they had seen any boby suspicious going into the toilet. Both said there were none and its impossible to bring a life person out of the toilet without them noticing!...
Then A remembered seeing a cleaner pushing a trolley in, and then coming out. The police told them that was not the 1st time such a thing happened. The police suspected a gang of criminals who were always attacking women in the the toilet of shopping complexes. They use cleaners to kidnap people to harvest their organs for sale.

REMEMBER : please be careful when using the toilet. Do not go to the wash room or toilet ALONE!! Please at least have a partner with you.

Monday, November 1, 2010

EPF Rules

If ONE (1) of your Nominees in the EPF Nominees list dies, automatically the whole arrangement (EPF Nominees list) is VOID .. Meaning if, you only put in One (1) name & unfortunately he/she dies before you - automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.

Even though if you have few names in the EPF Nominees list, - the whole arrangement is VOID & none of the individual names left in the EPF Nominees list will get their portion & automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.

Piece of advice - if any of the your Nominees in the EPF Nominees list dies, please do immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & present the Death Certificate of the individual & register your NEW / LATEST Nominee in the EPF Nominees list + NEW / LATEST percentage .

If, you & the other party (maybe spouse) involved in the same misfortune (accident / illness) that caused death to both yourself / spouse please, please, please alert your siblings / relatives / parents to immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & share the information within 3 days to AVOID all EPF money to be surrendered to trustee of AMANAH RAYA .

Upon surrender to trustee of AMANAH RAYA, your children will have to battle the money thru 3 channels;

Majlis Agama

Pejabat Tanah

Mahkamah

The normal period via above 3 channels usually takes 2-3 years (except if you have inside/tip top connection) at Amanah Raya.

Beware of ID theft in a Hotel via their card key...Caution!

Always take a small magnet on your holiday, they come in handy at the end of it.
Thought you all needed to know this


This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!

HOTEL KEY CARDS

Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

Answer:
a. Customer's name
B. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner.. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.

Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.

But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!

The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Flag this message I Am Mrs.Sahra Johnson Responds Urgent

From my Junk Mail, surprisingly a lot of people still fall victim to this type of skin deep cheap trick...

Dear Sir.

This is Mrs.Sahra Johnson from Namibia but presently in France for operation. I have a donation to make which I will need your assistance to carry it out for me, I will be 62 years old this coming August 17, a widow and a servant of the Lord for the past 38 years in Ivory Coast .

I inherited some money ($9.121, 000) from my late Husband Mr.Hugo Johnson.I want to give it out to Orphanage and Charity Organisations as a vow which I made before the Lord.I have a lung and breast cancer and will be having operation next two weeks, though the doctors already confirmed I only have some months to live but I am happy and glad that the Lord has kept me safe and guided me to accomplish my mission on earth. I will be happy to meet Him where He wants me to be.

I want you to contact this Nurse Miss Gladys Aruna I have given her the documents of the money and have directed her to a lawyer that will assist you to change the documents of the money to your name to enable the bank transfer the money to you.
Miss Gladys Aruna.
Email: gladysaruna@yahoo.co.jp
She will give you the documents of the money and will direct you to the lawyer I have appointed to her; the lawyer will assist you to change the documents of the money to your name for the bank totransfer the money to you.

This is the favour I need when you have gotten the money:
(1) Give 10% of the money to Miss Gladys Aruna as a promise Imade to her.
(2) Give 50% of the money to Charity organizations, orphanage homesand Churches on my name so that my soul may rest in peace.
The remaining 40% should be for you and others that you would loveto assist.
And if I don't hear from you within few days, I will look for another person. May God bless you and use you to accomplish my wish.

Pray for me always.
Mrs.Sahra Johnson

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Be careful when you share your table in restaurants

This is sent to me by my sister Lily, so I just copy and paste it here...

I was with a relative of mine today having a cup of coffee in Ampang. My relative had a very bad experience that I want to share with all of you. Last week in the morning, he was having coffee at one of those famous coffee outlets. A stranger asked to share his table and he agreed. During light, polite conversation, my relative sipped his coffee, and commented that it was bitter.

The next thing he knew he was in Ampang Puteri Hospital . He completely blanked out!

He later found out that his coffee was spiked (drugged) and his bank account was cleaned out – the culprit used his ATM card (he thinks that he must have given the PIN number while in a state of being drugged.)

So please ladies and gentleman, do not assume that your drinks can only get spiked in bars and clubs – it seems that now it has spread to innocent coffee shops and cafe

Please take care and be careful and alert at all times. Life is hard enough, don’t make it any harder for yourselves or your family and friends. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Putri Teh Soraya Denney
Chief Executive Officer/President
Amsito Oilwell Services (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Lot C 10-2
Jalan Ampang Utama 1/1
Off Jalan Ampang
68000 Ampang
Selangor Darul Ehsan , West Malaysia
Tel: +603-4257 3017/3564/3917
Fax: +603-4257 3716
E-mail: ptsd2@amsito.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

CREDIT CARDS

SCENE 1.

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?

A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker.
After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmm, "He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay - all cards were in place.

A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000!
He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions.

Customer care personnel verified that there was no Mistake in the system
and asked if his card had been stolen. "No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made.

An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet.
The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?

$9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies.
It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!

SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.
The bill for the meal came, he signed it,and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along.

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person.
He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.

She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.
All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card.
No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology.

Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.

Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time.
Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, "assuming" that it has to be theirs.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.
I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account.
The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure.
While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing.
I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture.
He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on.
It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing.

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.
About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved.
Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be careless.
Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card.
Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.
When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off.
Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there.

I have already been a victim of credit card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them.

(Forwarded by: Dicala, Wednesday, July 4, 2007 6:48 AM)

Compensation Notification from UN

Today, as usual I checked my email and was surprised to notice this email from the United Nations. It is indeed very attractive to have been noticed that I have a potential wealth of USD8.3-million!

I don't know how many of your have received such mail? Well, better be careful, don't lose your hard earned money on this scam!



From: "United Nations"



United Nations Compensation Unit,
In affiliation with World Bank
From: Special Envoy to
Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon
http://www.un.org/sg

Attention: Sir/Madam,

On behalf of THE UNITED NATIONS, I Mrs TRACY WILLIAMS, wishes to pass this message across to you.
The United Nations in Affiliation with World Bank have agreed to compensate all scammed victims from all part of the world with the average sum of USD$8.3M usd for self support irrespective of the amount lost in the act. This is regarding the draws organized lately to help individuals whom lost their earnings in this act and to build organizations so as to help the less privileged in the society.
This compensation exercise is also extended to victims of Hurricane, earthquake, War displaced and the aged. Anyone who is a
victim of the above mentioned is entitled to benefit from this compensation exercise. You are therefore advised to contact
Mr. WILLIAM ALEXANDER (co ordinator/payment officer in the United Kingdom , via e-mail address and telephone contact

Email: william.alexander09@gmail.com

You are further advised to send the following details to him through his above email:
full Names.....................................
telephone number.... ...........................
Postal Address.........................................
Scanned copy of either your international passport, drivers license or any form of identification for your
perusal, records update and
reference.

I apologize on behalf of the organization for any delay you might have encountered in receiving your fund in the
past.Furthermore note that all victims are to be paid through the new payment mode approved by the authority which is ATM
PAYMENT SYSTEM.And victims are to take care of the delivery of their loaded VISA CARDS/ATM CARDS.This must be noted as we are here to
serve you better and making sure you have a better life.
Hope to hear from you, as soon as you get in contact with Mr. Nicholas Brown and you successfully receive your compensation fund.
Making the world a better place! Signed and endorsed.

Yours truly,
Mrs TRACY WILLIAMS
(Announcer)Office of Secretary-
General BanKi-Moon.
(Financial officer)United Nations
http://www.un.org/sg

Monday, August 23, 2010

Be careful at the Airports

A Drug Trafficker's Water Bottle..

Be careful when requested by strangers for help to carry anything, especially airports near Customs... could be drugs

Can we be careful enough not to be duped while being kind or helpful?

It is sad how selfish people are now..so please be very careful when you want to be kind..and please forward this to your children as well..

Now you'll see why you should not hold anything for a fellow traveler or stranger, not even an old auntie or uncle or pregnant lady. Please share attached video with your love ones...

(Sent by my Sister Lily today)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What To Do If Stopped By Malaysian Police

The next time you are stopped by persons who claimed they are plain clothes police, you are under no obligation to answer their questions or follow their orders, lawyers told Malaysiakini today.

'Policeman who is not wearing his uniform does not have the authority to stop anyone,' lawyer and human rights activist Sivarasa Rasiah said.

Sivarasa was commenting on the alleged gang-rape of an 18-year-old Uni student by four men claiming to be police officers on New Year's Eve. The girl said that her car was stopped in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur and were asked by the men to open the car bonnet. She was then told that she had committed an offence and ordered to follow the men to a police station. The girl was driven in her car along the North-South expressway to the Tapah-Cameron Highlands road before she was raped in an oil palm estate.

This incident, and many others, have sparked confusion over the procedures which motorists must follow when flagged down by the police. The most common problem is that most people take instructions without determining if the other person is really a cop,' lawyer Annie Santiago said.

However, if you are stopped by a uniformed policeman, then you are required to stop. But you need not get out of the car because you are not expected to do so, Santiago said. He other rule to follow is to provide your identity card only when you are asked to do so. 'Even then, you should get his ID first to confirm if he is a cop. There is no harm in calling the relevant police station to verify if he is supposed to be on duty that day,' Sivarasa said.

Both lawyers said that motorists should never follow an officer to the police station unless one is under arrest . 'If you are not sure, and your instincts tell you that something is wrong, then drive off to the nearest police station and lodge a report,' Sivarasa said.

In response to the alleged gang-rape of the 18-year-old, Women's Aid Organisation executive-secretary Ivy Josiah called on the police to launch an education program to teach the public about their rights to prevent them from being victimised by bogus police officers.

Procedures to follow in the event you are stopped by uniformed police Officers while driving:

1. Stop the car and wind down your window.
2. If the police officers ask for your documents, request to see their
IDs first.
3. If you are satisfied about their identity, ask them if you are being
summoned, and for what offence.
4. Produce your identity card and driver's license and wait to collect
your summon ticket.

In the event that the police officers ask you to follow them to the police station:

1. Ask if you are under arrest and for what offence.
2. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to leave.

In the event you are flagged down by persons you believe could be plain clothes police:

1. Do not stop because plain clothes police officers do not have the
authority to stop you.
2. Drive to the nearest police station and lodge a report. (The same
procedure applies to pedestrians)

In the event the police come to your house:

1. Do not let them in before checking their IDs.
2. If you are not satisfied, phone the nearest police station and
confirm if they had been sent to your house.
3. You are under no obligation to allow them into the house if they
don't have a search warrant.
4. Do not go with them if you are not under arrest.

In the event persons who claimed to be plain clothes police come to your house:

1. Do not let him in because they do not have the authority to do so.
2. Lodge a report at the nearest police station.

(From my Hotmail.com Inbox dd March 12, 2008.)