Cheap Mobile Phone Selling Scams on Locanto SG

I have been seeing an increasing posts on social networking sites relating how they had been scammed by these so-called online scammers. The reason why these scammers are so successful and convincing is because they are able to provide Singapore account number and emails that is seems like some local Singaporean Chinese due to the dialect names. 

Reading numerous reviews on Hardware Zones, Facebook as well as Blogs sharing experiences on scams, we came to understand that there are three types of people that are being cheated. 

First, they will entice you with free advertisements classified sites like Locanto, Singapore Classified, Hard Ware Zone and so on, to post very lowly priced mobile phones or tablets like Samsung Note 3, iPhone 5S, iPad Mini and so on. One would which would cost very cheap price like $300 to $700. Very unbelievable price. It is almost like they are Apple Inc. 

They will subsequently tell you after 2-3 days that your shipment has been wrongly sent. There were like 6 more iPhones, 4 more iPads and so on packed in the same package. They threatened that if you do not send them more money, your stock would not arrive. 

Then came the custom issue. Sometimes, it would be at Turkey. But most of the times, the custom issues happened at Malaysia. Very strange if you like to import things into Singapore. Its through Cargo Complex Changi or PSA. Who sent items through Malaysia-Singapore Customs. They will demand for more money. Most people stop here, but there were still some that still fall into the scam and paid more. 

If the above happens to you, you have been utterly scammed.

UNSUCCESSFUL BUYER / BECOME AGENT WITH YOUR iBANKING ACCOUNT

When they get unsuccessful buyers, they will give a counter offer stating that they will offer you a job as an agent. All you need to do is to email your account to this usually, American guy. They are likely to be from Nigeria, but there is really no indications on that. Anyway, you will receive 10% from the amount that has been transferred to your account and remitted to Nigeria or U.K, or wherever they stipulated. 

What this means is that, your account is being used for the cheating or scamming of the victim. Think again.

I strongly believe that this scam is orginated from the same people who started the MTECHLTD or EPlanet Ltd. Please see the following links for references. 

iPhone 4S Selling Scam Alert - M-TechLtd.Com is a known Electronic Selling Scam 

Hardware Zone Scam Discussion

Scams - Complaint to Locanto's Facebook page

A Brand New "The New iPad" has been delivered to me!!

Latching on to my earlier posts with regards to my New iPad which went dead after less than a year of purchase, this is an update of what is going on. 

My iPad went dead on 5 Aug 2013

Continue - My iPad went dead (9 Aug 2013)

This will be my final update of the issue. It has been confirmed that my iPad which was purchased nearly a year ago went dead. It was due to hardware component malfunction. This was beyond the service center's ability to repair. 

Therefore, a new one was being delivered. The collection on the 9 Aug 2013 was a bad experience. It was found unable to rotate not matter what. I went to the setting and set the toggle slide for rotational to be unlock. It was unlock and yet it did not rotate. I went back briefing after 10 minutes of collection and I was told that the next time, the iPad which is fully functionally will be sent to me. 

On 12 Aug 2013 at around 10.30 am, the New iPad arrived. I signed for it and I am a happy man. 

I almost forgot to reply to the eServe service survey during the time I am writing this. I guess I will be going to fill it up positively. 

You see, 10 more days, the warranty of one year will be expired. I am so lucky to have component failure in nick of time. This iPad believed to be a refurbished one (That means all the good parts put together to assemble a new one) will enjoy an extended 90-day warranty. 

What do I have to say about Apple product? It is service-oriented and they keep their words. 

I am satisfied even my iPad was a faulty one. It flickers with lighted pixels and went dead after I did a master reset. 

I agree that "Once you go Mac, you never go back!".

Guide to Apple Service Centers in Singapore

Continue - My New iPad is dead (9 Aug 2013)

On 6 Aug 2013, just one day after my iPad was found "dead", a call was received from Apple Service Center. I was informed that they have replaced a brand new iPad. I will have an extended warranty starting from the day I received the call. I asked what actually happened to my trusted iPad. The staff told me that the internal components is defective. I guess this could be a wear and tear issue. But luckily its defective enough to break down within the warranty period for one year. Lucky for me.

Please refer to the following link to find out how the New iPad went blank.

My New iPad went dead on 5 Aug 2013

With further ado, on 7 Aug 2013, I went down to the Service Center at 313 Somerset Basement 3 to collect my New iPad, literally "new".

Being rather excited, I forgot to bring out my SIM from the car when I arrived at 313 Somerset. But I tested the iPad anyway. It was working fine. The packaging is completely new with the transparent plastic cover that is pasted around to protect it. I quickly signed and acknowledged for it and went straight to my car. In my car, I inserted the SIM and test it.

To my horror, the screen was inverted. I tried to tilt it properly, the screen would not rotate. I guess, it could be the setting. So I went to General Setting and then turn the Screen Lock. Toggle the "Mute" to unlock the rotate function. But it was already unlocked. Oh my god, I told myself. Another defective set.

I quickly ran back to eServe and told the staff about the problem. He told me that he will do a master reset and some testing. I patiently waited and after 25 minutes later, I was informed that there is some sensor problem with this iPad. Luckily I did a thorough check.

To make it up to me, the staff told me that the iPad will be delivered to me instead the next time. There is no need for me to proceed to the center to collect it again. That was quite a relief. This because parking in the Central Business District area in Singapore is extremely expensive. Singapore is ranked the 5th City for highest cost of living, if you are wondering.

In conclusion, Apple's customer service is top notch. It honors its warranty and this process is free of charge.

I will provide further update in due course.

My iPad (The New iPad) went dead on 5 Aug 2013!

I have always been a fan of Mac. You know what they say, "Once you go Mac, you never go back!". 

On 5 Aug 2013 about midnight, I was watching some clips on my iPad on the bed, just like any other day, when the screen suddenly flickers. There were like 3 columns of pixel dotes shiny and the screening were flickering like a old TV with poor transmission. 

I quickly did a master reset. 

MASTER RESET

Holding down the HOME and the SLEEP/ON buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds.

The iPad went off as expected. I pressed the SLEEP/ON button and the Apple logo came up. After awhile Apple Logo disappeared and went straight to the Screen Lock Page. As usual, I slide my hand gracefully across the slider and the iPad should have gone to the main page. It did, but only for a brief 5 seconds. It turned blank.

Alright, I told myself, there is got to be an explaination for this. You see, the battery shows 87% charged. It is not normal for my iPad or any iPad in the world to behave this way. So I did another MASTER RESET. The screen remains blank. 

I quickly rushed to the wall socket and where the 10w charger provided by Apple in the iPad box was plugged in, to charge the iPad. This tablet shows no sign of life. 

INVESTIGATION

My investigation over the Internet after reading the Apple Community Forum (Which was not at all helpful) was that there were people like me. In a thread of more than 6 pages, there more very ignorant people who were not facing with the same problem, battery dead issues. Their issues were caused by overcharging, wear and tear of battery. There were times when the iPad goes blank after you leave it alone. The battery gets drained because of the function Apps with all sorts of push notifications from Sports to News. Their problem can be solved by charging the iPad. 

There were also people facing a similar problem, albeit a minor one. The screen hang showing blank screen. They thought that the iPad was dead, but in fact it was showing a black blank screen instead. There are tell tale signs for this, off the light of your room in complete darkness, you will be able to tell that the screen is actually slighted litted and greyish. This can be resolved by doing MASTER RESET over and over again. 

I found two or three persons with the same problem. But nobody was able to address to their issue directly. They kept saying about the MASTER RESET. This annoys me. One of them, went to the Apple Service Center and have his iPad replaced. This is quite encouraging. 

INTERIM - 313 @ SOMERSET

Upon seeing this, I went in search of the New iPad's box. This is always the problem, you will never find the box when you really need it. Anyway, after an hour of hunting, I found it. It was purchased on 23 Aug 2012. Oh my god, I told myself. It is still within one-year-warranty. 

On 5 Aug 2013 at 11 am, I called the Singtel (Service Provider which I bought this iPad from) after sales hotline which is stated on the invoice. I was asked if there was a warranty card. What the hell!. There was no warranty card to begin with. All my life using Apple's product, I have never seen a warranty card before. I told the staff politely there was any. Because if there was, it would have been in the box. I was then advised to go to Apple Service Center at Somerset 313. This is a shopping center at Orchard Road, Singapore I have never been to since it has been built. I believe its more than 10 years already. 

INFORMATION - SINGTEL AFTER SALES HOTLINE

Anyway, I arrived at the center at 12 pm. It was quick. The staff without much knowledge on Apple products could not answer why and what happened. He told me that he will do some testing and if it cannot be repaired, I will be given a brand new iPad. But the further warranty would last 90 days from the date someone called me to inform it is ready for collection. 

Anyway, the Singtel after sales hotline is incorrect. There are actually other branches of Apple Service Center to choose from. There is actually a branch that is quite near to my place. For individuals whom bought their iPads or Mac Books in Singapore, please refer to the following link which I have prepared for people seeking the correct information. I also found out that they do not repair or deal with iPhones. iPhone users, please refer to the entities that sold the phone to you. LOL!

APPLE SERVICE CENTERS IN SINGAPORE

Another post to update the situation will be made in due course.

Community Discussion on The New iPad went dead!

Apple iPhone 5 sold out within 30 minutes of launch in Singapore

All around Singapore, long queues were seen at telecommunication retailers and electronic retailers. It was 20 Sep 12 (Thursday), the launched of the very much anticipated mobile device, Apple iPhone 5.

 

There are so many Singaporeans trying to get their hands on it. There is even a Singtel first iPhone customers featured in The Straits Times (Singapore leading newspaper).

This is no wonder, Apple Inc can turned itself from a troubled firm into the most valuable company in the whole wide world, surpassing Exxon Mobil.

It will takes probably weeks before the other Apple fans to get their hands on this extremely popular smartphone as they get swept off the shelves the moment they are placed.

>>Full Report

 

iPhone 4S Selling Scam Alert - M-TechLtd.Com is a known Electronic Selling Scam

This is a known scam site that sells popular gadgets like Apple iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPad 2 at a very cheap and irresistible rate. It is no wonder why people still falls for this scam. $600 for an iPad 2? $700 for the latest Apple iPhone 4S?

It tries to cover all angles by implementing a purported delivery tracking website. Providing an explanation on your parcel (iPhones or iPad) delay because the parcel are stuck at custom. The person would even tells you that they had sent you more iPhones then you have purchased. In order for you to get the goods, you would need to pay, say maybe $2,000 more.

_____________________________________________________________________

M-Techltd.com or M Tech Limited

Apparantly, this website M-TechLtd.com has been posting numerous advertisements on localized Singapore Classified Sites like Locanto.sg, one2sell.sg and so on selling popular electronic products like Apple iPhone 4S, Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Note and more at irresistable price.

I understand many are very attracted with these stuffs and most people wanted them. The only deterring factor about all these electronics goodies are their price. The purported seller used this weakness and greed in human to conduct their unlawful acts of cheating. That is inducing someone to part with their monies by dishonestly deceiving that they could delivery something that they had no intention or no capacity to provide in the very first instance.

A classic Example of their Advertisement Format as follows:

Bonanza! Bonanza!! Bonanza!!!

We are currently offering X-MAS special Package bonanza on all our products.. This Special bonus Package includes:

* Slash in all our prices
* Buy 3 and get 1 FREE
* FREE delivery to doorstep.

Product Includes
*Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II Unlocked
*Import Standard batery AC Travel charger
*USB data cable
*Stereo headset
*User manual

Key Product Features
8 Megapixel Camera
microSD, up to 32GB
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth v3.0 HS
Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
GPS with A-GPS support

The Samsung Galaxy sII cost $700 sgd.

Get yours now at these special prices while offer last!!!!!!!!!

Contact us on orders@m-techltd.com.
Website: www.m-techltd.com

I have heard from a friend that one good friend of his had became a victim of this scam. He transferred some money and only to find that the goods are not delivered. He was given a website that is obviously purportedly created to look like a real delivery tracking site to make things convincing. He was convinced that the parcel was actually on the way. He ordered iPhone 4S. He was contacted subsequently and was told that he needs to pay a few thousands more as his parcel sent was a wrong one which contact more than what he had ordered. Most people stopped at this point suspecting it to be a scam. But there were some that actually went on deeper and made the subsequent payments.

The following is a review that I had found on the Internet to substantiate my claim that this website (M-Techltd.com or M Tech Limited) is nothing but a scam, a cheater.

M Tech Limited Review dated 22 Sep 11

I have found more than one and to my horror, people are getting scam despite reviews were found on the Internet confirming that this website is indeed a fraudulent one. It took me awhile to actually to find these reviews. I then came to an understanding that these reviews or scam alerts are found in page 3 or 4 of the generated search results. Which means, the more advertisement posts made by this website or the scammer himself had took top positions in the search results of major search engines like Google and Yahoo.

It is not wonder why most people were not able to find anything and jumped right in to their trap by making payments to buying the iPhones or iPads that they will never going to get.

Scammers must start somewhere and it is not surprising that during the initial stage, there would be people who will get what they had bought. But that is only a handful out of thousands of people around the world who were utterly scammed and cheated.

If you were to visit this scam website - M-Techltd.com, you will find it to be quite professionally designed. The scammer knows how to capture attention and knows where to post his or her advertisement. The following are the contact details which is likely to be some generic location. The phone number could be even to registered to someone else.

READ ON FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Apple's Co-Founder, Steve Jobs the Visionary dies at 56 years old

"Probably I will just turn up the volume of it. Because, the last few years have reminded me that life is fragile".

Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011) Co-Founder of Apple Inc (56 years)

It was in the morning of 6 Oct 11, I received a news notification on my iPhone that "Apple's co-founder, Steve Jobs died. One of the greatest person ever lived in our time has passed away peacefully following a long battle with cancer. He died on Wednesday, 5 Oct 11.

The visionary that changed lives by introducing portability with style. In 1976, he started off with his best buddy, Steve Wozniak in a garage. He has transformed that garage into Apple, the most valuable company next to Exxon Mobil.

He was ousted from the Apple Inc's board in 1985. Apple's business declined tremendously since.

It was only until his return in 1997 as CEO brings Apple to a new height that many would not have imagined to be possible at all.

"Today, Apple is going to reinvent... the phone". The exact words he said during the release of Apple iPhone. A smartphone so powerful that changed the lives of many. Bringing convenience and technological brilliance to a level that no one could even imagined. Since iPhone, it was the iPad. "And we called it, the iPad". A tablet PC no one thought would be so widely used and popular.

>>Read on for the full article