Scam from Medan?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my Newsletter on top left and receive our Special Guide and/or RSS feed for the latest updates. Take some time to leave comments too :-) Thanks for visiting!

I received a very disturbing email and comment today by a visitor from Deutschland about his bad experience on Medan! You can see his comments in our guestbook and I have also attached it below in italics.

What disturbed me was that some scammers have used “Medan” to scam people off online as described in the comments which damage the reputation of Medan.

I really hope these scammers are not from Medan as I assumed that if these people created a dummy company, then they may not be from Medan at all and I am sure even their names are fictitious.

There are many great honorable, honest people in Medan.

Scams happens everywhere and everyday, from internet scams, to sms (mobile messages/text messages scams, email scams and even mail scams. Some promises unclaimed prizes, lottery winnings or even inheritance. Some in business dealings. We have heard stories of many scams around the world. This is the first I heard from Medan.

We have to be wise enough to be able to check out everything and make sure everything is legitimate before parting with our money to these scams.

Here is the email / comments by a victim, I have added some tips on “How to Avoid being Scammed Online” at the bottom

Medan crooks badly damage the economy of Indonesia!

A lot of dealers from Europe and the United States get cheated of young criminals from Indonesia and mainly from the city Medan via InterNet. This modern kind of cybercrime This criminality does not only harm the businessmen from the foreign countries, it harms also the reputation of the Indonesian business in the world. Also the institutions of Indonesia. Likewise authorities and institutions of Indonesia appear weakly in relation to a small minority of criminals.

I believe, it exists a problem, which does not admit in the Indonesian public, but it must be known and solved. They use Alibaba.com a Community channel and a place that allows business people to exchange business ideas, communicate business issues and find business resources.

A lot of Criminals meanly from MEDAN – and in my case - Andre Kusmana and Erwin Candra and their company “Original Bike.Co.,Ltd” in Medan, Jl. Putri Hijau No. 25 create a dummy firm. They offer in the InterNet at Alibaba.com not existing goods.

They recruit with the following text and look for international dealers.

“We are the most professional manufacturer and exporter for high end bicycle and spare parts, based in Medan, Indonesia. Our products enjoy fast Sales in worldwide market at present, due to our superior products and professional service. We have some kinds of mountain bikes and many types for choosing.”

They describe their enterprise as Distributor/Wholesaler with 5 - 10 employees and a total annual purchase volume of US$5 Million - US$10 Million. (http://www.alibaba.com/member/id101342118.html)

But nothin exists! They cheat businessman from Europa and North Amerika in simulating buisiness dealings. They arrange dealings and operate in a big scale, promise to deliver and after the international buissinessman had correctly paid the amount to their account, they hide in the suppost obscure internet!

This kind of cybercrime damaged the credit and the reputation of all the fair Indonesian buissinessman in international trade and I think, traders, politicans and the authorities are confronted with the problem to find a solution of this criminal problem and to protect international customers and also Indonesian exporter against this kind of cybercrime!

Erwin Candra!
Andre Kusmana!

I dispatch this text to you, because I would like to get back my deposited 3000 $ I have payed this criminals … but also because I dislike the damage of the Indonesian economy and society.

If you need more Information:
Heinrich Hohage ( Heino.Hohage@gmx.de )
Hasenberger Weg 2a 42897 Remscheid Deutschland

Here Some tips on How to Avoid Falling into Scams Online:

1. Check if the company have a website, many people sell stuff from eBay and Alibaba without a proper company website like the one mentioned below. From the website, check for addresses, phone numbers and organizational structures.
2. With these information, google further to see if these companies actually exists and google to see their reputation online. You could add the word “scam” at the end of their names.
3. Check if the company actually exists offline, by calling them up, or checking with the local authorities. You can usually find the website of local authorities in google.
4. Try not to transfer money directly to the account of the recipients. Use a third party, it may cost more but its an insurance to you.
5. If you are to put a huge purchase order, request for other references from other customers or clients. Or try with a smaller order first to minimize your loss.
6. If you are buying anything online, most reputable sellers, use a merchant account, PayPal, ClickBank, PayDotCom or 2Checkout. These 3 rd party payment processors usually have a money back guarantee policy where, they are able to scrutinize and filter out reputable sellers.
7. If anything looks or sound suspicious, do not continue with your transactions.

Tauke Tauke Medan

SWA Sembada, a reputable business journal in Indonesia published an edition on Tauke Tauke Medan

Tauke-Tauke is a chinese dialect (Hokkien) word for Boss. Hokkien is a general language spoken by Medan Chinese and of course the list of Medan Tauke are Chinese from Medan.

Here is the list:

1. Abidin (Beby), owner of CV. Belawan Indah, transportation and heavy equipments.

2. Albert Kang, Director & Owner of PT Orange Organizer, one of the largest advertising company in Medan including event organizer

3. Amin Halim, owner of furniture company, PT Intan Andalas Wood Industry.

4. Anton Chen Tjia, owner of PT Putra Jaya Raya (Kota Baru Group), with high profile property projects such as The Piazza Residence, Kota Baru Square, Imperial Trade Center.

5. Bachtiar Karim, Bahari Karim, owners of Musim Mas Group, one of the largest oil palm plantations in Indonesia incuding companies: PT Bina Karya Prima, production and marketing of cooking oil branded as Tropical; PT. Megasurya Mas, production of soap bars branded as Medicare, Harmony, Liesel and Eve

6. Benny Nasri, President Director of PT Alfinky Binamitra Sejahtera (Group Multatuli) in real estate - property project such as Royal Residence

7. Bintarna Tardi, President Director of PT Medan Tropical Canning & Frozen Industries, company operating in fishery and sea foods including consumer product branded Vinisi.

8. Darwin Tiohhardi, PT Industri Karet Deli, manufacturer of Swallow Tires.

9. Djajadi Djaja (Chow Ming Hua) President Komisaris of PT Wicaksana Overseas International. Distribution and retail company.

10. Djoesianto Law, Nurni Angsana, PT Olagafood Industries, manufacturer of the well known instant noodle Alhami.

11. Budiman, Edwart Budiman (Ahuat) founder of Hotel Polonia Medan.

12. Edwin Bingei Purba Siboro (Ng Ti Boon), Sendi Bingei Purba Siboro (Ng Ti Sen), Timin Bingei Purba Siboro (Ng Ti Hin), of Sumatera Tobacco Trading Company (STTC), manufacturer of cigarettes product such as Union, Hero, Panama, Nero, Johnson and West. Also, PT Sari Incofood, manufacturer of consumer product coffee banded Indocafe, Express Café

13. Fajar Suhendra, owner of Growth Sumatera Group, manufacturing of steel, fishing industry and shipping.

14. Hamid Djojonegoro, Husain Djojonegoro, Kogan Mandala, ABC Group of companies including battery manufacturer PT Everbright Battery Factory branded as ABC; PT Ultra Prima Abadi, manufacturer of dental care, tooth paste branded as Formula; PT Aisasejahtera Perdana Pharmam manufacturer of energy drink Krantingdaeng.

15. Hansen Teo, founder of Extra Terrestrial 45 (ET.45), license of four major record label.

 

17. Hendro Basuki, Daniel Basuki, PT Selektani Horticulture Indonesia (HTI), plantation industry.

18. Idris Marpauli, Henry Marpauli (Lie San Wen), PT Red Ribbon Indonesia Corporation, export of frozen foods

19. Irwanto (Lie Yen Fang), Mitra Group.

20. Kwik Sam Hoo, Director PT Arga Citra Kurnia, property, real estate Citra Garden.

21. Martua Sitorus (Thio Seng Hap), founder of Karya Prajona Nelayan (KPN), one of the largest oil palm plantations in Indonesia, cooking oil, logistics, fertilizers, and consumer products such as Sania cooking oil and Fortune.
Martua Sitorus also one of the largest shareholder in Wilmar Group with Kuok Khoun Hong (Singapore).

22. Rachman (Ciu Se Tuan), founder of PT Mabarfeed Indonesia, feed producers.

23. Rajali Chuwardi (Chow Sin Sien), Gunawan Chuwardi (Chow The Wie), PT Majujaya Pohonpinang, one of the best branded syrup in Indonesia -  Pohon Pinang.

24. Richard Ho, Director of PT Sasana Mitra Lestari, of Theme park Wonderia.

25. Rizal Chuwardi, pemilik PT Tunggal Jaya Prima, of syrup branded Sarang Tawon.

26. Saripin Taidy, PT Probesco Disatama, sales of spare part and heavy equipments.

27. Senadi Poa, Director of PT Anugrah Prima, developer of Plaza Medan Fair.

28. Shindo Sumidomo (Heng Hok Soei), President Director of PT Siantar Top Tbk, manufacturer of snacks and food industries.

29. Sukanto Tanoto (Tan Kang Hoo), founder of Raja Garuda Mas (RGM), wood industry, property, plantations, banking. Developer of Uni Plaza and Thamrin Plaza in Medan.

30. Sudjono Karim, of Capella Group, distributor of automobiles such as Daihatsu, BMW, Isuzu, Peugeot, Nissan Diesel, Kubota, including spare parts. Other subsidiaries include PT Capella Dinamik Nusantara (Distributor Honda), PT Isuindomas Putra(Distributor Isuzu), Bima Kencana (Karoseri), PT Capella Multidana (Pembiayaan), PT Capella Propertindo (Properti) and also into oil palm plantations.

31. Suryo Pranoto, founder of CV Sarimakmur Tunggal Mandiri, of Opal Coffee.

32. Susanto Liem, founder of PT Domas Intiglass Perdana.

33. Tansri Chandra (Tan Beng Chang), owner of CV. Ahli Teknik Indonesia, steel industries.

34. Tek Jan, PT Maximize Informas Studio, of Edugames, educational VCD Games.

35. Vincent Wijaya, founder of PT Juta Jelita, in frozen food industry.

36. Wendi Hermanto of PT Bahtera Adimima Samudra (BAS), fishing industry, consumer products, distributions, and property.

37. Wirnardi Lie, Wiryanto Lie, owner of travel agent Trophy Tour and airline carrier Jatayu Air.

There are many more conglomerates from Medan who has not resided in Jakarta or even Singapore.

Koran Medan | Media

Here are a list of newspapers of Medan - Indonesia

1. Harian ANALISA www.analisadaily.com - One of the most Popular newspaper in Medan
2. Harian WASPADA www.waspada.co.id
3. Medan Bisnis www.medanbisnisonline.com - The Business newspaper in Medan
4. Andalas
5. Harian Global www.harian-global.com - A new and colourful newspaper in Medan
6. Harian SIB www.hariansib.com
7. Harian Sumatra
8. Sumut Pos
9. Post Metro Medan
10. Warta Garuda
11. Harian Berita Sore www.beritasore.com
12. Tabloid Aplaus www.aplaus.net - A new tabloid targeting at the new trendy youngster in Medan
13. Medan Pos

There may be other new newspapers and media that may spring up every now and then

You may add to the list in the comments below.