It’s puzzling when you read about people get conned using simple tricks such as magic stones etc. You always wonder this could only happen to old folk and the uneducated minorities. Well! This is no longer true when the simple tricks have developed into complicated international pyramid scheme with lots of people incuding many professionals has become part of the victim statistics.
About 10 years ago in 1999, I was introduced by a ex-colleague into the GoldQuest scheme with a joining fee of USD 300 (about RM1200 back then) in exchange of gold-flated coins. The investment or more correctly ponzi scheme promised lucrative payout for members for introducing more downline (in fact more victims) joining the scheme. Shortly after the payment, I received a welcome letter with the tracking centre no for referring more people and collecting money. The letter indicated that the company was registered in British Virgin Island and even promised the rights for refund within 12 months of purchase. However, there were no news nor any annual statement received subsequently after more than 10 years.
It was later discovered that there were many people were lured into the similar scheme worldwide in India, Sri Langka, Iran, Canada and United States and was subsequently banned in many countries. Many hoping to get rich quick have put in their hard earned money into this scheme. In the process of recovering their investments, they have also become unintentionally as part of the many “conmen” when their friends, relatives who joined subsequently were not able to recover their investments.
As for me, thankfully I have not caused any financial loss to others. As to the so-called upline who introduced me to the scheme, we are still good friend after so many years as I know he was just a victim as well.
Nevertheless, it has become one of the important lesson learned in my subsequent investment experience - Don’t jump into anything when something seems or sound too good to be true.
No comments:
Post a Comment