Martin Lee @ Sg
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Agarwood Trees Investment

Have you ever been invited to a pitch for Agarwood trees investment?

I received a call the other day from a company “Eco Global Network” inviting me for a “Go Green” campaign. It was supposed to be a talk to spread awareness on environmental issues and as an incentive for attending the 1-hr session, I would be given some NTUC vouchers.

agarwood treesI tried searching the internet for Eco Global Network but couldn’t find any information on the company. By searching the address, I managed to find the name of another company who were in the business of selling trees. I decided to attend anyway to find out what it was.

At the seminar location, the name of the company was not Eco Global Network but was that of the company that I found earlier. I was bought into a room at the stipulated time to wait for the speaker. I noticed that the room was not arranged in a proper seminar layout. Instead there were many tables with four chairs at each table.

A person T from the company came over to my table to sit with me. T was a rookie who had just joined the company two weeks ago. She explained that the speaker was late and sat down with us at the table to chat with me. The same thing happened at the other tables.

She started to ask personal questions which I was quite uncomfortable with. She was obviously trying to form a connection (one of the sales technique) but I was not in the least interested, knowing she was going to sell me something eventually.

I asked her whether she heard about Eco Global Network. She said she didn’t. She also said that the speaker was usually late but as their company had a existing contract with another company for the speaker, they couldn’t do much about it.

After some time, a manager came over to explain to us that the speaker was unable to come, and whether it was ok for T to brief us instead. I asked why not get one person to brief everyone at the same time. This was shot down with the explanation that a 1-on-1 presentation would be better. I suspected that there were no plans to have any speaker at all based on the way the seats were arranged.

T bought us to a corner to showed us some exhibits of Agarwood, and how expensive it is. A small vial (called a Tola) of oil produced from Agarwood could cost $900.

Finally, T started to talk about an investment opportunity.

A plot of land could grow 100 Agarwood trees. And each tree could produce 4 tola of oil after seven years.

If I bought a plot of land, we could generate 4 x 600 x 100 in revenue after 7 years. This was about $240,000.

Even at a lower projection of $400 per bottle, it still worked out to be $160,000. There was a 15% harvesting cost, so the net revenue would be $136,000.

And the cost of 1 plot of land? Each tree only costs $250, so a plot of land would cost only $25,000. This was a promotion price.

Which means I stand to make more than 5 times a return of my capital after 7 years.

To top it off, the company offered a buy back guarantee after 2 years. They would buy back the trees at $550 – $600 each if I wanted to sell after 2 years.

I think the returns projected by this company would put all the major agriculture companies to shame. 🙂

At the end of it all, came the magic question about how many trees I could afford to buy. I maintained my poker face and asked T straight in the face whether I could buy 1 tree. . Yes, just ONE tree to test out the investment and see whether it worked. The expression on her face was priceless. 😉

A manager came along and tried to sell me 25 trees. She explained that she could try to look for some leftover trees for me. The offer eventually dropped to just 10 tress after I pleaded that I had no money, given the high cost of HDB, etc.

So the final deal was 10 trees with a 5-10% initial deposit and a 5-day cooling day period. I told the manager I had to leave and would think about it. As a last ditch attempt, the manager asked whether I would be willing (as a mark of sincerity) to place my NTUC vouchers on hold with them and they would reserve the 10 tress for me.

I said no, took my vouchers and left.

Leave a Comment:

254 comments
P C says 6 years ago

Aiyayah, I doubt that there are any real agarwood trees that you are owner of. One big scam!!!

Reply
    Nur says 6 years ago

    This should help everyone here to recognize these U Harvest people who had been selling agarwood investment scheme, they are visiting this blog and hope can see this post.

    Ben Soo, Chief Operation Officer at U Harvest. He can be currently located at 1 North Bridge Rd High St. Centre #06-23 S’179094 doing others bogus investment scheme under different company.

    https://i.imgur.com/TqzKvkJ.jpg

    Minnie Han, Compliance Manager at U Harvest
    https://i.imgur.com/eslzUZV.jpg

    HENG YONG JOO (ALVIN) , Sales Director at U Harvest. Now working at DENNIS WEE REALTY PTE LTD; CEA REG NO: R032151Z; Agency Licence Number: L3005183F; JOINED ON: 01-01-2012
    PropNex Realty Pte Ltd; Agency Licence Number: L3008022J; EMAIL: [email protected]
    https://i.imgur.com/rUEL1RI.jpg

    Linda Lim (left) and Angie Heng (right), Assistant Portfolio manager. Angie is staying at Hougang Ave 3 Blk 16x to 17x
    https://i.imgur.com/ReLLblK.jpg

    Amanda Lim
    https://i.imgur.com/a4oZ9Ze.jpg

    Nelson
    https://i.imgur.com/Q6vNjwn.jpg

    These are only some of them, hope others can contribute here.
    Some of their colleagues had already surrendered to the authorities and to exposed all these nonsense. We ask earnestly the others to do the same.

    Reply
Saint says 6 years ago

received calls from 4box regarding we investors got cheated/scam from U-Harvest. FYI, i just got mine yesterday 04/04/2017.
I manage got hold of U-Harvest representative by the name of Lindy Lim (Manager) and Melvyn (consultant).
Lindy advise me not to pay any fees to this 4box company and hear what they have to say. She even told me she will help and investigate this matter further. i hoped she can this done ASAP.

Lindy(U-Harvest manager) told me she will try and contact some of her U-Harvest clients and seeking Tinh Da Viet email address as U-Harvest will be no longer liase with them. For the clients who wants to sell off their trees, we ourselves will liase with Tinh Da Viet Ltd Co personally.
Lindy even assured me that U-Harvest still has an account and money invested with Argawood.

So for now, im not sure what to do and believe. Lindy says U-Harvest did sent out a letter to ALL clients about U-Harvest will be no longer liase with Tinh Da Viet Co.

Reply
    Windjammer says 6 years ago

    Hi Saint. Did Lindy get back to you?

    Reply
      Saint says 5 years ago

      Yes. But now a letter will be issuing by Tinh Dat Viet that we nees to pay a liable fees/cost. Those invested in 2013-2014, will he receiing it soon. I did email last received from Mr Ho Ngoc saying i will get my rwturns in 2021. Asking him if i can sell it off last year but then it stopped there.

      Reply
Windjammer says 6 years ago

My friend received a call from 4box too. As I am an investor with another friend he asked us to follow him to the office. He called up 4Box to ask if he could bring friends and they said yes. So we followed along with my wife. We were waiting for all of us to meet so we were late. Someone from the office called my friend up to ask if he is coming, he said will arrive in 5 mins.When we reached there they were surprised to see the 4 of us and kept asking us if we are together. We said yes.We waited for about 10mins before one couple came out from the meeting room. I asked my wife to follow them out on the pretext of going to the toilet. But there was one indian guy who followed them out and send them to the lift. My wife was not able to make contact. Then they showed us into a meeting room. I noticed that there were no chinese around and all of them were either malay or indian. They said that as my friend is chinese speaking they are asking a chinese manager to come down. We waited for more than half an hour and when we kept asking where is the manager they said she is on the way. Then one indian came in and said that as there are 4 of us, we need to register and ask for our IC. He said it is protocol. Me and my wife argued that if it is protocol they should ask us to register once we came to the office. My friend kept asking him how they managed to get his hp no. and the U Harvest contract details but he kept saying later will tell him and ask us to register first. Things then got heated and I repeated my question again loudly. He say dun need to shout and my wife repeated the question loudly again. Suddenly 3 or 4 guys rushed into the meeting room and started asking us to get out. The indian guy (wearing specs) started shouting you want to talk we go outside and talk ( like a gangster) I realised that things are getting out of hand so I told my wife and friends lets leave now. One of the guys started to push my wife’s backpack and she shouted stop touching me. We then left quickly with the indian guy shouting in the office to call the police.
It was then that we decided to make a police report and we did.

Reply
    Saint says 6 years ago

    By the way did you manage to go to Vietnam for the plantation visit?

    Reply
    sssvit says 6 years ago

    At all times I felt that I was being pressurized into signing up with 4Box and putting in a deposit. Did not look real to me. I checked my agreement elsewhere and was told not to get stressed as there is no further payment that they can claim from me.

    Reply
Rich says 6 years ago

I’m not sure if this helps, but I am helping a friend of mine try and track down someone forn U-Harvest. They invested 2 years ago and have not heard anything in over a year. I went on the bizfile.gov.sg and purchased the ACRA. It is still listed as a “Live Company” with a Paid Up Capital of SGD240,000. One single shareholder/director. A singapore citizen whose address is in Johor Malaysia. I don’t think I can print their name on this forum. But I suggest that you take five minutes and spend SGD5.50 to get a copy yourself. It will give you a place to start. Their registered address is still Suntec but that appears to be a dead end.

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    sssvit says 6 years ago

    I went to their office at Suntec Tower 3 and was told that U Harvest have moved out a long time ago. Also checked the agreement and understand that nothing in the agreement mentions that such huge amounts (as said by the so called service providers who contacted us) can be claimed by the managing / marketing agent. The agreement clearly mentions that the Managing agent “at its cost and expense procure all necessary staff …………required to carry out the services set out in clause 21”. Its pretty clear. Only cost recoverable from us is the cost in ‘Schedule 6’ for harvesting and sales commission (which is 15%).

    Reply
      Nur says 6 years ago

      U Harvest will ask for payment first then instruct you to come back 2 weeks later for the The Agreement …

      The Agreement is not the same what is told before the payment.

      This is totally a scam & fraud !

      Reply
Shui says 6 years ago

I have consulted with my lawyer friend in Malaysia.. she n he mentioned.. the agreement had stated all the maintenance should bear by the Vietnam plantation..
so I told the person in 4box dynamics. He told me the maintenance fees that stated in agreement is for when we harvesting..
But it looks terbalik for me..

The 4box dynamics n u harvest might be the same gang of ppl…

[email protected]

Reply
    Al says 6 years ago

    clause 23. The Managing Agent shall at its own costs and expense procure all necessary staff, materials, equipment and accessories required to carry out the services set out in clause 21.

    instead the letter of demand should be sent to the Vietnam company for not providing any audited growth report.

    clause 22. The Managing Agent shall provide the Purchaser with an audited growth report on the Trees every twelve (12) months (the “Foresters Report”) and approximately three (3) months thereafter, provide an annual audited timber stock report for the entire Plantation in which Trees are situated as background information.

    Reply
Eric says 6 years ago

Dear all,

This is a long overdue scammed which has involved numerous investor from the previous previous company and these people still free out there to con more people! I kept below sms since 2014 till now:-

Dear all customer
Kindly note that we have moved to 72 Bendemeer Road, level 5 Luzerne building. Meanwhile new office is under some renovation. Any enquiries please feel free to call us at 86465003 and look for Alex Ong

Regards
Tropical Forestry Venture / Plantation Alliance

I even filed a police report but no action has been taken so far. We seriously need people to create awareness in social media so that at least more people know the issue and hopefully police can track those people that are involved and put a stop to this.

I believe most of us have invest hundred of thousand in this growing scam business.

Author of this blog, if you saw my post please help us to make it viral in social media.

Thank you.

Reply
Jghw80 says 6 years ago

Hi Albert,,
Police report has made after that visit to RST solution too in cantoment police station same thing the police say to not pay as they could be another scam.

However I am still sketical whether the clause 39 will it get us into trouble?

With the scam from TFV and U harvest, if the developer is real will they really come to us directly for the maintenance fees?

This is overseas investment not local.

They mentioned that they have 300 plus contacts of the victim and will try to locate them asap and ask them to join class action suit.

Hi Shui,

Yes that day they did mentioned to me to atleast give a bit of the deposit 1st showing our sincerelity and they will see if they can do us a favour to talk to the lawyer again.

I say I need to seek 2nd opinion 1st. The ending speech from then is “If you ever received any letter from u harvest or the developer please contact me directly i see what I can do”. In the discussion is not like that keep on saying that once the letter come out it will be too late.

So which is which.

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shui says 6 years ago

I received a call from 4box dynamics as well!!!
N I paid them 2000 deposit n tell them I need to consider..😂

Reply
Albert says 6 years ago

Dear Jghw80, Lei and Aileen

I am one of the investor of U harvest. I did received call from RST solutions or 4box dynamics. Yesterday I went there and one man talked to me saying I has been cheated. He say not only that I cannot get back the money but also I am liable to pay for the maintenance of the trees. He asked me to pay a sum of $$$ for him for file class action suit to be paid to the lawyer. I said I have no money and need one day to consider.

After I came out of the office, I went directly to the police. The police asked me not to pay any money. Today I went to the U harvest office at Temasek Tower 3, 42-01. The office is actually is belong to another company which rent office for meeting. They told me that U harvest only went there to held a meeting only once, and they did not pay the rent. They do not have any contact number from U harvest.

I suggest that we come together to make a join police report on U harvest. I will also be seeking legal advice on what we should do.

Please do contact me at [email protected] to discuss how we can proceed further.

Reply
joshua says 6 years ago

Jghw80

may be just ignore them, they dare to threaten you in the first place, it means they already lose their conscience. =(

Reply
Jghw80 says 6 years ago

Any received call from RST solutions or 4box dynamics?

Claiming that they are able to help to recover some of the money that we invested?

Any thoughts on this?

Reply
    P C says 6 years ago

    These new guys think that if you can be scammed into buying agarwood, you wud likely fall again for their new tricks. Talk to a real lawyer – you will learn that they r telling a ton of bullshit. If they claim to be lawyer, check v d Law Society. If they r really lawyers, complain them to d Society!!

    Reply
    Albert says 6 years ago

    Hi Jghw80

    I received call from 4box dynamics, I went to meet the person. They told me the same story as your previous post, ask me to pay $14500 to join the class action suit. I said I have no money and need to consider. After I left the office I went to the police station, the police officer asked me to not pay them money.
    Today I went to Temasek tower 3 to find the U harvest office. There is no U harvest office there, it is just another office leasing company. U harvest only set a meeting one time there, and they did not even pay for the rent. That company do not have any contact of U harvest.

    Do you like to join me to file a police report? I do it one person, police will not take action. You can email me at [email protected]

    Reply
Jghw80 says 6 years ago

Hi to all,

Anyone has been called up from RST Solution Pte Ltd or 4box Dynamics Pte Ltd from 82 platform road which I done a Google search that started going live in May 2017 this year?

They claim that they are in construction trade and service provider.

Last Wednesday a lady called me that they have our personal data and knowing I have invested in agar trees and been scammedby U harvest. They are able to help me to recovered back some $$$ whether is partial or full amount.

I asked if your firm really legal or the police have let your firm take over this case, the lady mentioned that they are a service provider and got my data from 1 of the ex-staff from U harvest and I have ask twice if there is any fees involve for their support she replied no twice too.

Arrange appointment for me to go down to meet their officer in-charge but in the end is another person who claim he is a legal advisor but their core business is in construction.

Asked for my contract that signed with U harvest and telling me all the scam and stuff.

After that he specially highlighted the clauses 39 to me. That I am liable for the trees I bought and need to pay maintenance fees.

U harvest will be sending letter of demand on behalf of the Vietnam company to claim this maintenance fees actively from now to end of 2017.

If i don’t pay the maintenance fees i will be sue by the overseas company that managing my plot of trees. As this are overseas investment it will be handle by the London lawyer or they claim it queen lawyer.

Then I ask what is the solution, then the officer mentioned the only way is to terminate the labilities by sending the letter of demand to the overseas company to prevent them from taking approach or go to court as “class action suit”.

The officer claim that the lawyer working with them are very experience with class action suit.

The chances of winning the case and getting back some compensation is 90% as is “class action suit” rather than fighting 1 to 1 with the overseas company.

Then he started drafting out the plans and solutions to my problem either terminate with this 5 digit xxx amount or fight the case which also turn up another 5 digit xxx amount.

I mentioned i don’t have so much money, is there any other solution? Understanding that U harvest is a scam now why do I need to spend the $$$ to fight the case. I would rather let the matter rest.

He mentioned if I let the matter rest, the overseas company will not allow too and my liabilities will be a 6 digit xxx amount to pay.

He appeared sincere, and after that he introduce his colleague as lawyer. The colleague also tell me he is a legal advisor not lawyer so which is which i don’t know.

He left the room with my contract I don’t know what he doing with it maybe he photo copy a set or something.

So the colleague explain to me the seriousness of this scam that i facing so proposed to me all the charges and instalments plan to go about it.

I say I don’t have so much $$$ on hand what u expect me to do.

So the approach is very pressurizing telling me the problem i will face in the issue.

Then he proposing about the lawyers can really do wonders to help fight this case.

Again i say no $$$, he asked me whether to loan $$$ from the bank and stuff, I say no again.

I say need a 2nd opinion on this, he say I don’t have much time once the overseas company ir u harvest start to send out letter is too late to action already.

I say no matter how this is a huge sum how i know if he is any how quoting me or not. He claimed that his lawyer is the cheapest and want to bring those company to justice for those victims.

I just say I really need a 2nd opinion. The ending message to me if I really receive letter from U harvest or the overseas company I have to inform them immediately they will still see if can they help or not and I took their name cards with my contract and left the office.

There is alot of uncertainties and doubts over the discussion i had with and not sure if they are ex-staff of U harvest or other investment scam company?

Also clause 39 really referring to us and we are liable to it for the maintenance fees?

They took my contract out of the room they have my details too.

Anyone had the same experience from RST solutions and 4box dynamics so far?

Reply
Nur says 6 years ago

We hope those who are already in the agarwood investment scheme can also step forward to lodge reports with the police and to help in investigations.

Reply
Nur says 6 years ago

Many know U Harvest’s people are watching here so do the police.

There are actually plausible legal recourses for the investors to be recompensed. Under the Companies Act, they can apply as creditors for the winding up of the company, being insolvent since it cannot pay their debts. After a liquidator is appointed to wind up the company, i.e. Tropical Forestry Venture(S) Pte Ltd, the investors as the company’s creditors or the liquidator can then apply to declare that any person who was carrying on the business of the company with an intent to defraud creditors or for any fraudulent purpose be held personally responsible for all or any of the debts or other liabilities of the company. This means that the former directors of the company who defrauded the investors can be held personally liable to pay these investors back. This is under section 340 of the Act. Most likely these fraudster directors had taken their money and so would be the appropriate party to be held liable. Further, such conduct by the fraudster would be a criminal offence under the Companies Act as well, with a maximum sentence of $15,000 fine and/or imprisonment of 7 years.

There are also other Court powers under the Companies Act which the liquidators can apply to be exercised. For instance, section 286 of the Act allows the liquidator to make a report stating his opinion that some fraud has been committed, upon which the Court can direct that any person or officer in connection with the company can be publicly examined. Under section 287 of the Act, the Court can also order for the arrest of an absconding director if there is proof of probable cause for believing that the contributory is about to leave Singapore.

link: http://www.ronaldjjwong.com/2016/02/27/600/

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P C says 6 years ago

Very little the Police can do. Learn to avoid such traps in future.

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    Nur says 6 years ago

    Singapore Police Force is the best among the best in the world !

    Lets see all these people can go against the Law.

    Reply
Nur says 6 years ago

Aileen immediately report to the police,

if you want to recover back your investment monies.

just mention the case is being investigated by C.A.D.

Reply
Aileen says 7 years ago

hi Lei,

So what did the police say or action?

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    Lei says 7 years ago

    Aileen,Please send me email to discuss. Thanks

    Reply
    Nur says 6 years ago

    All investors who bought agarwood trees investment scheme from U Harvest
    are asked to lodge individual police report at your nearest NPC,
    if your want to recover your investment monies.

    The case is being investigated by the:
    Investment Fraud Branch II
    Commercial Affairs Department
    Singapore Police Force

    Reply
      Avi says 6 years ago

      We around 60+ investors of TFV (conned around $1 mil ) have already done police complaint 2 years ago (there will be many more other investors), no outcome yet. These people are still conning with new names, new tactics, no one is there to stop them Or stop innocent investor getting fooled.

      Reply
Waruna says 7 years ago

I am sri lankan.i can’t investbut i have place,can you help me.thanks i hope you replay.

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P C says 7 years ago

DO learn to recognize an out & out con job when you you see one!!

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Aileen says 7 years ago

In Feb this U Harvest contact me and my husband to share about their new business model in Lamborghini club at mbs and ask us whether we want to invest.

Same technique as before sharing with us the benefits of and is a short turn returns of 1 or 2 yrs. Wanted to bring us aboard, however we never buy their ideas.

But they also never mentioned that Vietnam personnel will take over our portfolio.

During the contract signing they say they will provide us annual report on how is the condition of our agar trees.

This is what was reply to us, instead of of the individual

“Below are the reports for your purchase of 25 trees and 12 trees.

Height 1-1.2 meters
Width 2-3 cm

As for your enquires for putting your trees for sales. Yes, you may do so. Kindly provide us the buyer’s particulars so we can do the change of ownership and provide the buyer with a new certificate.,”

Thanks and best regards

Mr: Ho Ngoc Vinh
Cell: +84939318888
Sent from my iPhone

Reply
    Lei says 7 years ago

    Hi Aileen, so you are a victim too? Can you please drop me a email at [email protected]. AL and I have already talked to the police about this. It is better if we act together.

    Reply
    Lei says 7 years ago

    Sorry, wrong email input. The right one is [email protected]

    Reply
Al says 7 years ago

Al = Alvin?

Reply
Lilian says 7 years ago

Al = Alex?

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Aileen says 7 years ago

Hi,

Anyone invested in “U harvest Pte Ltd” recently?
Recently received letter from them that they will not be taking care of my Agar Trees portfolio anymore due to their business have other investment portfolio to take care.

Check on their website and tried calling them to find out why they want to contact Vietnam directly.

Tried emailing and calling them the office no. and mobile of the agent is unreachable.

Anyone invested Agar Trees through “U Harvest Pte Ltd” here?

Reply
    Martin Lee says 7 years ago

    Looks like another one run away again. 🙁

    Reply
      Al says 7 years ago

      U Harvest Pte Ltd had shifted to a service office at 8 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec Tower Three #042-01, They can be contacted at 68292337.
      Hi Aileen, how can I contact you?

      Reply
        Lei says 7 years ago

        Hi, I am also an investor of U Harvest and am experiencing the same thing as Aileen. Want to know more about that? Is that confirmed run-away?

        Reply
          Al says 7 years ago

          Hi Lei, how to contact you?

          Reply
            Lei says 7 years ago

            Al, you can reach me at [email protected]

            Reply
    BIJU says 7 years ago

    Hi,Yes i am also waiting for their annual report but didnt recieve it yet after 1 and half years.I tied to contact the agent but it was also not available ( it was prepaid hi card).So I went to the office but no office there.Please help with this if any one have idea to contact them.Thanks

    Reply
      P C says 7 years ago

      Why bother? They hv already run away with your money. Ask the Police, see if they can help.

      Reply
      Lei says 7 years ago

      Hi BIJU,you can drop me a email [email protected] to discuss.

      Reply
    janet says 7 years ago

    Read your story. I am a victim too. I purchased Agar trees from UHarvest, up till today I never received annual report as promised by them. Is a scam. Not able to contact them with same phone. Pls let me know what is wrong I think is a scam & I lost the money.

    Reply
      Avinash says 7 years ago

      I am afraid you have lost the money. They open the company in new name and dup people there will be 100 plus police complain for over $1-$2 b scam but no action, no one is able to stop them.

      Reply
Rich Ong says 7 years ago

Another MAS alert.

http://www.mas.gov.sg/IAL.aspx?sc_p=O

Seems government bonds are the only place to put money now. Everything else is scary.

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P C says 7 years ago

Fools and their money are soon parted.
A sucker is born every day!

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John says 7 years ago

Hello
A reply to add some balance to investors fears in this blog. APC is not a scam. The returns are real. I invested 6 years ago (I am from UK but lived and worked in Singapore/Malaysia for 12 years). I have done 4 deals with APC. The first one paid out 2 years ago and the 2nd is due to pay out within 12 months. I understand the scepticism and it is true that most start ups of this nature will see your money disappear into thin air. Before reaching a conclusion on APC I would suggest you go to Thailand and inspect their facilities. Ask to see their plantations, many within a day’s drive of Bangkok and their distillery and processing facilities. Make your judgement after you have seen their stills processing Oud oil. Have a look at the numerous videos on YouTube. I don’t work for the company but have a look and see if the infrastructure and knowledge is there. It most certainly is. Finally, if still not convinced then go to Paris and ask the major perfume houses where their Oud oil comes from. Is there a guarantee? No of course not, someone takes a risk and it’s the brave investor. But as for APC, they are real and they will meet you and welcome you to their premises. They are not hiding.

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Liilian says 7 years ago

Now I also dunno how…………3 years had gone and why is the authority not doing anything?

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P C Wong says 8 years ago

And by the way, I enjoyed the nice curry lunch and collected the RM100/= AEON shopping voucher. It’s been some days since and there hasn’t been any follow up calls from the sales agents. Did I ask too many awkward questions??

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P C says 8 years ago

Yesterday, on invitation went to Agarwood presentation by Asia Plantation Capital at the 1-World Hotel, PJ. Investment plan Something along the lines of 1 tree=RM790/=; 1 rai (1 acre =2.53 rai) yields 400 trees. Thus 1 acre yields 1,000 trees. Land in Thailand. Contract with S’pore’s APC Pte Ltd. money collected by APC Sdn Bhd. Sale by ?? Forest Venture ?? Sdn Bhd. Collect return in 7 years with profit rate at 28 % pa simple interest.

This sure as hell looks like a scam:

1. If such fantastic return of 28% pa, why did’nt APC do the project themselves?
2. Why hasn’t the plantation giants like Sime Darby, IOI, Felda, KLKepong rushed into planting Agarwood?
3. Sales agent said investment by cash only, no financing arranged. Would any bank finance an investment if due diligence shows a scam?
4. Contract with Spore limited liability company. How to go after foreign company if they break promise? What point to chase ltd co which can easily fold up, become bankrupt?
5. Cheapest land in far off areas In Msia can be alienated from Govt for agri purpose at cheap prices, maybe 1 or 2 k RM per acre. Say you get land for RM10,000 per acre. Palm oil planters will tell you to plant oil palm and maintain to maturity in 3 or
4 years will cost about RM5,000. Total cost per acre (plus land) = RM15,000. Allow contingency, say total cost to maturity = RM20,000/=. BUT THE APC COST PER ACRE BASED ON THEIR SALE PRICE TO YOU IS 1,000 trees X RM790 = RM790,000 PER ACRE!!!! And land in Thailand likely cheaper than Msia.!!!
6. Money paid to APC Sdn Bhd and not APC Pte Ltd, while contract with Spore co. (??)
7. Lease agreement says law applicable is Thai law !! How many people familiar with Thai law?
8. Did APC actually show documentary proof of any land ownership???
9. Why Thai land and not Msia land (or Swak) which is plentiful and convenient?? To confuse investors?
10. Why contract with Spore co? To avoid getting entangled with Msian regulatory laws under Securities Commission, Company Commission of Msia, Bank Negara etc and laws on Direct Selling Act, cooling off period, investment manager licensing, prospectus approved/lodged with SC, forex rules, interest bearing schemes etc, etc????
11. Money paid over to Msian Sdn Bhd co and not to a Trustee Bank???

This Agarwood business by APC is an out and out Ponzi scheme. Huge sums are being collected. Initial investors may be paid off with later investors’ money. At the ripe time, the scheme will collapse, $$$ all gone, perpetrators nowhere to be found!!!

Reply
Steve F says 8 years ago

This is the UK regulatory position on tree and crop investing.

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams/investment-scams/overseas-property-and-crop-schemes

Essentially their position is don’t do it, but if you do you are on your own. There are no regulated tree investment companies operating out of the UK. I dont believe there are any regulated ones operating out of Singapore either.

Please understand the tree investment scheme you are looking at is most likely not different or special or unique. Nearly all of these schemes are constructed to pay all of your investment in commissions and fees up front to the organisers leaving nothing to run and manage the investment (if it actually exists) on the back end.

If you can’t understand why these aren’t immediately closed down let me explain it:-

I offer you an unregulated investment in a third party country that will pay out in 3 years.
You accept that investment based on verbal promises you believe I make and the warm glow you feel at being chosen for this magical thing via telemarketing. (the documentation despite all the big positive words usually makes no promises at all). We enter into an agreement as adults. That is all an unregulated investment is.
I call you occasionally, tell you how great things are and suggest you buy a few more units.
Sometimes you get a discount for introducing friends. You are now actively evangelising for the product.
Then things tail off a bit. You start to read a few bad things on the internet. Suddenly I’m hard to contact.
I fail to pay due to exchange rates, business changes, government action, foreign relations, the weather, destructive trolls on the internet, bad customers, 9/11 (all of these have been used as excuses by scams over the years).
I ask for more time to pay and then I offer to reinvest your returns in a restructured scheme that removes all my obligations from the earlier scheme.
Eventually you acknowledge the money is gone and start shouting for the CAD, press, police to do something. Sometimes they do but often there isnt any proof of deliberate fraud and anyway the money is gone.
I sell your details to a company that offers to get your money back for a fee by reviving your investment.
You pay the fee and that keeps your hope alive for another year.
Then you give up.

My opinion is this will be the outcome of all these schemes.

You cant prove its a crime until it fails and even then its difficult. The due diligence in investments is on you.

Reply
Didadi says 8 years ago

Hi All,

I believe most of us here in this blog are either interested to this Agarwood or being conned before by this investment. I have a friend in this business for more than 10years. You may drop me email at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding agarwood, I may help you to find the answers. Cheers !

Reply
SAM says 8 years ago

Investor Alert List from MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE:
The Investor Alert List provides a listing of unregulated persons who, based on information received by MAS, may have been wrongly perceived as being licensed or authorised by MAS. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated :

Asia Plantation Capital Pte Ltd
Listed address:

50 Collyer Quay, #06-05,

OUE Bayfront, S(049321)

Address according to ACRA:

30 Raffles Place, #11-00,

S(048622)

Tel: +65 6222 3386

Fax: +65 6888 7533

Website: https://www.asiaplantationcapital.com/; http://www.asiaplantationgroup.com/

Email: [email protected]

[Listed on 18 February 2015]

Reply
SAM says 8 years ago

Dear ALL
Just last week attended an Agarwood Investment Scheme Promotion by ASIA PLANTATION CAPITAL at E&O Hotel in Penang. A Singapore based company that has a local office in Penang. APC has its own Agarwood landbank and trees, Distilleries and perfume range for the non-alcohol Islamic market.

The plantations are in Thailand, with innovative Resin treatment that allows bountiful harvest via a patented innoculation technique that guarantees 100% success or 1 for 1 replacement if anything goes wrong. The interested can pay a deposit and 100% refundable. If need cash, just call them and they will settled you payment in 5 working days. investing in RM and valued at Singapore dollar with future Singapore dollar appreciation. Visit is possible every year, you pay for their selected flight and hotel, they covers you plantation visit with meals and transport. Management will charge a one off fee (25% of initial investment) at tree maturity and ready for harvesting. Forecast return about >20% per year after 7-9 years. Very attractive returns.

I am very interested as seems EXCELLENT on paper but at the same time I do not want to be DUPED or CONNED!
Kindly advise???

Reply
    Didadi says 8 years ago

    Hi Sam,

    Are you from Penang? I am from Penang, please PM me at [email protected] if you are interested to discuss more about this Agarwood investment.

    Reply
    Didadi says 8 years ago

    Hi Sam,

    Are you from Penang? I am from Penang. Please PM me at chindidadi@hotmail if you are interested to discuss more about this Agarwood investment.

    Reply
    VM says 7 years ago

    Dont. It is a scam. I know people who works there.

    Reply
David says 8 years ago

Rewrite to remove typo errors!

It is very sad so see all the trees (and animals, etc) scams going round.
I tears my hear, when the poor are parted with their hard earned money, never to see them again.
We just cannot blame them for being greedy. Maybe partially, BUT we all guilty one time or another
They could be our very own uncle or aunt or brother or sister..
Everyone genuinely/sincerely want a good shot/chance to get more money and a more comfortable life, maybe savings for children’s higher education or old age medical/hospitalizations savings!

Thanks to your website Martin, many were made aware.
I really meant it from my heart!!!

As with the some people, who promotes the agarwood so positively, how true is it ?

Anybody can write anything good about this and that; lieing is really simple and cheap, or can be cheaply done !.
Nobody even the webmaster can verify the identity and truth of the commentor, nor the truthfulness of the comments ?

We do not even know the (real) name?
Does David means it is a man? A Chinese? or even a woman?
Does Raja means an Indian? Can be a Malay lady?
Does John Watson means a actual Brisitish? Maybe a Chinaman, or a shy Indian lady?
Could even be one person using few identities?
Only God know ?

Most of us use aliases or fictatious name, from our names looks like most of us are Ang Mo Kau, when in fact all are simple local Malay Indian or Chinese!

Telephone numbers can be prepaid and can be changed anytime..
Website and facebooks and twitter account can be a genuine “FAKE” Removed the next days.
Address can be fictatious or just rental address.
Tenancy contracts can be show-show only even 6 years, can be terminated (after 6 months) after a number of succesful scams or when victims start to protest.

Trust your first (innocent) instinct / impression…If it is unbelievable ~ do not believe

BUT If it is really good, it will come SURELY back again!
Again and Again. Tommorow is not the end of the world, trust me!
It you do not believe, ask yourself ~ why would one person insist to invest, if there is no tomorrow?

If they say ACT FAST…time and tide waits for no one…
TELL THEM time and tide comes everyday EVEN when no one is waitng !

or who are they to tell this opportunity is the best, not to be missed, they are not GOD…
They do not even know what happens tomorrow (live or die) in 24 hours time,
BUT dare to promise promise 100% return in 2 years (with disclaimers written so small)?

Like I said, if only they can predict what happen in the next 4 hours, (only 4 hours, not 2 years !)
I need to buy some 4 Digits Magnum and make my millions (buy RM 100 Big and RM 100 Small)
And I agree to give them 90% lion share, I am more than happy keep only get 10%
Or just to (irritate these scammers) even just a miserable 1 % is good enough for me..

Anyway !% of RM10M is RM100K ~ which is also also too good to be true for 4 hours advance notification fo the winning numbers!

Reply
    Didadi says 8 years ago

    Hi David,

    I am strongly agree what you have written, but only the first half I agree. I totally disagree for the 2nd half. Let me ask you, do you really understand what is “investment” ? Let me make the story short, no one can 100% predict the future, but we can do forecast base on our own knowledge and experiences. We will never ever able to guarantee the future price of the product but we should 100% confident of the scheme before we sign up. That is called “investment”.

    Reply
Arthur Wong says 8 years ago

I attended a similar event with OUD Plantation Technology. This is a more localised Malaysian setting. They were supposed to give me my Aeon vouchers, which they promised as an incentive to attend their talk, but they lied to me saying that they ran out of vouchers whereas my spouse went to the same event at the same time as me got hers. What con men and con women? If they wanted to cheat on the voucher, God/Allah knows that they will cheat and renege on the final contract. Thank God I left without investing. I was seriously thinking about investing.

Reply
    Didadi says 8 years ago

    Hi Martin Lee, thank you for setting up this blog. I found different opinions from everyone which is a very good platform to learn, especially for those really working on genuine agarwood business.

    Reply
      KUNA says 8 years ago

      Is this Ben Soo mention in newspaper same as the in house sale manager from the scam company TGG?http://www.tggsabah.com/biography.html
      please advise thanks

      Reply
        Rich says 8 years ago

        Hi Kuna,

        Confirm same guy. My friend recognised him and told me to stay away.

        He even put his picture on TFMA website:

        http://www.tropicalforestryassetsmgmt.com/#!our-factory/cx3w

        Reply
          KUNA says 8 years ago

          All beware of this big time conman. His name is Ben Soo. He has conned numerous of people all this years. If you have been conned before by him , please logde a police report against him. This is to stop him from doing more harm to public and also get the police force/ CAD to nail him down. Thank Martin lee please let this message stay , this is to alert public.

          Reply
Miss J says 8 years ago

Please do not let anyone that you know invest in World forestry Fiji .This is a investment scam run out of the U.K. .
Yes another bunch of Brits ruining the Agarwood industry with there bullshit .
Obviously setting up scam companies out of the U.K. Is the latest craze .
The police in the uk must be to busy drinking tea than to arrest these people for stealing off pensioners who put there life savings in this scam .
Bottom line is ,stay away from UK companies selling Agarwood plots .

Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Thanks for the info

    Reply
Carol says 8 years ago

Dear Rich,
Just being approached by One Plantation to invest. Is this a genuine investment company?
Regards
Carol

Reply
    Eric says 8 years ago

    As u can see from above, so many victims. Invest on your own risk, my advise is DON’T

    Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Hi Carol

    As I say must be careful before do any action. Find out more info as I have a friend invest in the company you mentioned, now he want to invest in the company I invested and become one of the agent. He is now at Laos with one of his investor to go and see the plantation and explore more there.

    Do contact me if you want to find out more with no obligation.

    Adeline ([email protected] 93896586)

    Reply
      Carol says 8 years ago

      Thank you for the advice. I think I will keep this off unless I am very sure about it. A Friend recommended a capital appreciation program. Returns seem good. Same approach. Needs to be careful. Here’s wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a great year ahead!

      Reply
    Rich Ong says 8 years ago

    Hi Carol,

    I hope you had a good Christmas. I’m not sure about One Plantation yet. They seem quite new into the business but genuine. I think I will wait a while for them to prove themselves. Lots can go wrong in forestry no matter how good your intentions. I have not had time to visit them to find out more as I have to travel a lot with work. If you learn anything, please share.

    Kindest regards,

    Rich

    Reply
      Carol says 8 years ago

      Thank you for the information.

      Reply
      Carol says 8 years ago

      Hi Rich,
      My friend has joined the company as associate and investor. I have decided not to be involved since the lock in period is quite long and I am not familiar with the business.
      Regards
      Carol

      Reply
    joshua ching says 8 years ago

    just my 2 cent opinion,

    if I have something that can be sure win, i will borrow loan from bank, because in my experience,
    the credit card(CC) & personal line of credit (PLC) can do fund transfer, and only need to pay about yearly interest 6% to bank

    why would I need to ask people for money? =)

    ———————–
    if your salary is 3k, credit is usually given 2x, which will be 6k,
    so 1 bank can loan up to 12k (CC+PLC)
    then 6 bank (Dbs,Uob,Ocbc,Standard charter,Hsbc,Citi ) can loan up to about 70k.

    in case someone argue, 70k is too small, cant do much,
    but if a person can’t even handle small money, how is he going to handle big money?

    ———————–
    my best guess, from the point of view of human nature,
    about people ask u for money, might because:

    1. they can earn commission,
    2. they just want to share risk, if anything go wrong, it can minimize their loss.
    3. they dont want to take up the responsibility for the money,
    if the investment win, good for you. if investment lost, it is not their problem.

    ———————–
    I wonder ,would it be better if we ourselves can learn to pick up some trading skill ?
    although I also agree, it is not the cup of tea for everyone.

    alright, that’s all of my sharing,
    I hope it is more value-added than the old saying
    ” if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”

    haiz… old saying is not helping me to understand human nature and full picture. =(

    Reply
      Didadi says 8 years ago

      no offence, I am just sharing my views.

      This Agarwood needs 6-7 years to harvest. Before it gets harvest, basically if it is a real plantation business, there will be no income during this period. If loaned from bank, can you tell bank you will only serve the repayment after 6 years? Apparently no right? A genuine listed company also do the same method to run the business, gather money from the share holders and grow the business….

      Indeed, sharing is caring. If I really got to know a way to invest and with handsome profit, why keep ? To be frank, if only yourself is rich and your relatives and friends are struggling, will you feel happy? Of course , you cant force someone to blindly follow you. But you can share and let the individual to decide.

      Thank you.

      Reply
DavidNg says 8 years ago

Dear Adeline,

Just curious ~ not to pour cold water…
Does the company have reasonable track record to prove the long term viability.
Are the companies involved being audited regularly.

Current interest rate is 3% p.a. Y years 6%
100% return in 2 years ? Even Warren Buffer loses out !

BTW ~ the Facebook info is recently created ~ less than 4 months.
The posting on 27August2015 contains your name Adeline Woon and Singapore phone number
Are you their poster girl? They are suing your name and tel # (with permission?)
Or are you part of the management?
Because you spoke so positivelky about the organization!

David

Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Hi David

    I am one of the investor and their agent. I know one of the director quite long ago (more than 10 years).
    Yes I start this in August and created page in Facebook to share with people. i went for the Laos trip to visit the office and plantation in August this year.

    Yes 100% in 2 years will end soon, next year will have new package with lower profit as they secure contract of 2 millions agarwood tree with Taiwan.

    This Sat 2-4pm have meeting and sharing by the CEO (he at Laos most of the time), if you have any queries, you can come and ask the CEO yrself.

    Thank you!

    Reply
      Rich says 8 years ago

      Hi Adeline,

      The Facebook link has some nice photos but not much information on which company it is or how the investment works.

      I noticed that some of your earlier pictures mention Goldenfield Envirotech which was part of the Zochwell group. They seemed to disappear after Zochwell went on the MAS alert list. The more recent photos mention Self Holding. Is this part of One Plantation Holdings? Is Goldenfield now One Plantation?

      I have been approached by a couple of companies doing this kind of thing. I like the concept but I’m not sure any of them are trust worthy.

      My friend who first introduced me to Agarwood is currently having issues with Tropical Forestry Ventures and it has put me right off the idea.

      I hope you can clarify.

      Sincerely,

      Rich Ong

      Reply
        Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

        Hi Rich

        No point I say so much unless you see for yourself and make the judgement. I can arrange you to meet with the Marketing Director to clarify all your doubt if you want. Yes there are other company using agarwood as scam as I heard from my friend. The CEO Mr Frederick is the right person to share with you how he started this business because he was cheated by others and let him got this opportunity to explore to agarwood in Laos. The company have lots of buyer even China want to buy for medical use as told agarwood in Laos is top grade and non polluted.

        Thanks for your queries and we have to judge and get more information before jump to conclusion and trust the wrong one and lost our hard earn money.

        Reply
Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

Dear friends

Please check out the link below that the company I invested just sign a contract for 2 millions agarwood tree on 5/11.

https://www.facebook.com/Forestry-Investment-816250458474361/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Thank you !

Reply
Miss J says 8 years ago

It’s amazing to see so many UK companies selling Agarwood plots in far off locations and the only difference between there investments is the name of the company .
It’s also amazing to see that directors of companies selling Agarwood plots that have been exposed as 100% frauds are now still directors of new companies selling ,guess what ,Agarwood plots .The fraud squad in the UK must either be very busy or very lazy not to see what’s going on .

Reply
    Steve F says 8 years ago

    Reliance should not be placed on the
    information, forecasts and opinion set out
    herein for any investment purposes and
    Intelligent Partnership will not accept any
    liability arising from such use.

    Intelligent Partnership is not authorised and
    regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
    and does not give advice, information or
    promote itself to individual retail investors.

    In other words a report assembled from information provided by companies promoting themselves for a fee.

    Reply
    Humphrey Minja says 7 years ago

    Wow! I think I should join in such a productive investment.
    Appreciate if you could contact me on 00971557993529.
    Thanks

    Reply
Miss J says 8 years ago

Please note that there is now another company scamming pensioners out of there savings .
Beware of World Forestry Fiji ,also known as World Forestry Monaco .
They are selling Agarwood plots that don’t exist .

Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Hi You may contact me to find out more about the company I invested.

    Reply
      Dave says 8 years ago

      Adeline Woon, what is your contact?

      Reply
        Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

        Hi Dave

        My email [email protected] Phone 93896586

        Reply
Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

I recently invest in Agarwood get back 100% in 2 years and search for more details and found this page and lots of comments.

I feel that there are many company doing this program as Agarwood is the world most expensive tree, we must wisely choose the right one that we feel good after attend the seminar, visit the plantation and etc to get the right one that will benefit us and our friends.

Some people may use this scheme to scam people to get money from the rest.

We must find the right one so that our hard earn money wont be wasted and get what we are looking for as i think i just put this money as fixed deposit in bank very less and now I can get 100% in 2 years and very good and share with my friend and some of them also invested.

Reply
howe says 8 years ago

i just been to one of the briefing event by this Asia Plantation Capital offers Singapore agreement, regulated by ACRA Singapore and accounts audited by a company with a letter J, got ISO 14064, fully complies with the Convention for International Trade In Endangered Species (CITES), have their own Distilleries and perfume range for the non-alcohol Islamic market. Similar layout 4 seated small tables in an event room plus free flow of water and coffee but without voucher this time, the price they are selling are getting higher RM870 PER tree and offer price is given if signed up on the same day or they keep the special deal for you for few days. Haggling is allowed which is strange. The plantation is at Thailand high land, local workers with generations of farming skills and patented inoculation technique guarantee 100% success or 1 for 1 replacement if anything goes wrong. Guarantee crops safety except in the case of war damaged. If interested can pay a deposit and 100% refundable. If need cash, just call them and they will settled you payment in 5 working days. investing in RM and valued at Singapore dollar with future Singapore dollar appreciation. Visit is possible every year, you pay for their selected flight and hotel, they covers you plantation visit with meals and transport. Management will charge a one off fee (20-26% of initial investment) at tree maturity and ready for harvesting. Forecast return about >20% per year after 7-9 years (you choose 7 or 9 at year 5 and last minute confirmation at year 7 or 9 or combine of both) of investing. Not taxable in Singapore or Malaysia.

Good coverage from online readable magazine called Capital Finance International (CFI.co) (though is my first time heard of this magazine) and reuters.com.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-plantation-capital-way-ahead-062300369.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/11/idUSnGNXsxMb7+e4+GNW20140411
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/asia-plantation-capital-opens-south-east-asias-largest-agarwood-processing-factory-in-malaysia-295593261.html

my conclusion is, there are a few companies offer this kind of investment, some could be genuine and some could be not (copy cat the idea and sell you the not real deal), as it is an investment so be prepared to LOSE all your investment fund if you decided to join the ride. if this amount of money is precious to you and you are not gonna sleep well thinking about it, then you better find a better investment tool suits you the most.

Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Yes Agreed. We must be careful, anything or anyone also have good and bad, we have to be careful to judge before make any decision. I always told my friend, just invest the extra money you have and treat it as fixed deposit and sure there will be some risk and must weight the risk can be taken by us or not.

    I had attend the seminar and visit the plantation as well, after deep consideration and discuss with my good friend, I had invested the agarwood from Laos.

    Reply
Larry Leong says 8 years ago

Of course Alex is part of the company in Boon Keng, trying to sell more trees and calling all the previous clients from Chinatown.
Why don’t you guys just go take a look to be convinced ??
No point guessing.
Gets you to nowhere.

Reply
    Sashimi says 8 years ago

    To Larry, go to get convinced for?

    How can clients of Chinatown get back their $$$?

    Reply
David Ng says 8 years ago

Well, Joshua, it is not 2 cents, it is USD2K advice…..

On the top of that, if it is so good, why not earn all of it for themselves.
Why even bother to engage and pay for these salesperson in fancy offices and all these free vouchers! They are saving hundreds of thousands monthly in avoiding this expensive marketing gimmicks.

If the business is so good, why not ask the bank to finance them. (of course we know why)
Should bank finance them, they would be getting even lower rates than us normal guys on the street.
2% interest difference for 10M is easily 200K !!

Even if it is risky, there are a lot of financial institution who invest in high risk investment.

Bottom line … Be contented.. Happiness does not necessarily increase with the amount of $$$ in your bank account. Even if it does, which sometimes does, it is marginal at the most! Seek wisdom more than you seek money. Wisdom can be passed to our children and make them better and wiser. Without wisdom, any money passed down to our children will corrupt them; only God knows!

Reply
Tito says 8 years ago

How is the TRV Agarwood issue, is it truly confirmed ‘problem’?

I am approached by U Harvest company (Singaporean company) who works with Tinh Dat Viet Ltd. from Vietnam, not sure if to invest with them, what is your advice on this if this is reliable?

Reply
    joshuaSK says 8 years ago

    to tito
    no offence, the following is just my personal opinion.
    basically when we deal with all these kind of investment company, i will do the following,

    ————————————
    1. stop mentioning, the old saying “too good to be true”
    bcos it is too generic and not helpful to our well-being,
    everything can be too good to be true.

    ————————————

    2 wait for at least 3 years, or the break-even yr, whichever is longer.
    this is to see if the company can survive first.
    (break even yr meaning, if return is 5% per month, 100% / 5% = 20 months

    ————————————
    3. ask the seller, ” if anything go wrongs, who can we look for? where do u live? ”
    and see his body language, whether he is willing to be responsible for their saying.
    ————————————
    even better if u can ask for photocopy IC of all the bosses, haha…
    well, usually they won’t agree to give, but that’s not the point,
    we need to be strong and firm to protect our hard-earn money.
    so it is a good practise to ask.
    ————————————
    4. if i want the NTUC voucher, you can still go listen, practising the above question, but don’t buy.
    2 hour in exchange of voucher, may be is worth. i did that before. =p
    ————————————

    5. if u want to wait for few yr and see how first, then they will tell u that, you will lose the opportunity.
    ask them back “why lose? do u mean after 3 yrs company will not be profitable anymore? ”
    (actually is they themselves will lose opportunity to cheat your money)
    ————————————

    6. another thing to consider, if i have a business that can earn high return,
    i will go borrow money from bank, bcos the bank interest, in my experience,
    is much lower than the return, that they need to pay you.
    the reason people ask for money, is to transfer the risk to us, and
    if anything goes wrong, they don’t have to be responsible.

    ————————————

    7.if they continue to push you and ask you “why not, what is the concern…bla..bla..bla..”
    can consider to practise this with them.
    ” you want my money, you convince me, not me convince you”
    ” what is my concern ? all of the bosses photocopy NRIC, you can have mine too”
    remember to practise the above mention, if you plan to go down there to see see.
    so that at the end of day, u get the voucher plus psychologically stronger =)

    ————————————

    -thats all my two cent opinion, hope it helps

    Reply
      Steve F says 8 years ago

      How will an NRIC help you when the money is gone?
      If you are making an investment outside of your own country in renewables that requires processing and distrubution to deliver value, that you cant see or visit, that apparently doesnt deliver returns today, that is based on promises of future actions and future behaviour you have no control over you are gambling not investing.

      This is not a fixed deposit. You are investing in a game of 3 cups and a pea in a foreign country 3 years in the future.

      The law will generally investigate and prosecute wrong doers.
      It will not generally get your money back if it is already spent or overseas.

      Their exit strategy always comes before your exit strategy.

      Reply
anonymous says 8 years ago

Purposely using a fake email addy and nick cos wish to remain anonymous.
fyi i was just cold called 20 mins ago, by a lady asking me to go for their seminar to “spread awareness” of “perfume oil” and in return, i get 50$ NTUC voucher.
In fact, the lady did not even want to mention what type of investment until I kept requesting her for more info and finally revealed that it’s agarwood investment. I turned it down because I felt nobody gives away vouchers for free without trying to sell me anything.
Anyway. I googled and found this blog.
I am writing this to spread awareness of what’s happening, and am not in any way trying to defame anyone. Note that I AM ONLY REPORTING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, and am not stating any personal opinions.
I have a friend who also invested in this a while back, I dare not bring the subject up to ask about his investment.
Moderator, pls post my comment as a service to the public. cheers.

Reply
Fxxk says 8 years ago

all went to the conference but none feedback anything……….very very sad now that money went to drain :’-(

Reply
Alan84 says 8 years ago

Anyone went for the conference yesterday? Any update? Any fist fight? I’ll going for the 3pm conference later .

Reply
    Sandy78 says 8 years ago

    Hi everyone
    What’s the event about ? I received a email to attend but then need to work these 2 days .
    The take over company is it stable to invest ?

    Reply
      DavidOng says 8 years ago

      They have taken all our money 🙁 This is a scam company. We will never get our money back.

      Reply
Lilian says 8 years ago

anyone attend? care to share?? thanks.

Reply
    John says 8 years ago

    I and my wife went their tenporary office few months back and was “threatened ” to top up per tree $100 for my 50 trees if not I have to contact Thailand plantation myself .
    I checked their director’s profile , Alex Ong was previous director of companies registered under 14A sago st , TFV originally address . Secondly , his current company which they claimed no relation with TFV, We Realised he is also one of the director for tropical forestry asset management . My wife suggested not to proceed anything with them coz again they want our money and I do not know if they can substain till 4 years later .it could be another scam .
    We are going to the Thailand plantation with the help of our Thailand friend to see our trees still there and also same time see the new company’s plantation which is residing at same address .

    Reply
      Martin Lee says 8 years ago

      Dear John, hope you can keep us updated of your Thailand visit although I suspect you might end up not finding anything there.

      Reply
        John says 8 years ago

        Hi Martin ,
        Okay, I will update once I’m back .
        My friend in Thailand have checked and no information about TFV and the current TFV asset management partnership plantation can be obtained from their registry .All this made me very worried .Furthermore, we have asked the new take over company In boon keng why they have our file and contact since no relation with TFV . The salesman and their superior beat around the bush and tell us nonsense . We were very angry and not convinced and left to consider their offer .Very fishy that’s what I can say .

        Reply
Alan84 says 9 years ago

This director Alex Ong has called us to attend 2 conference sessions next week, offering to provide us with a solution to our problems. Will this leads to further scam?? I have invested 40 trees & I’m stressed!

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Alan says 9 years ago

Omfg.. I invested in 40 trees.. Is it confirm a scam already A point of no returns?!?=~(

Reply
jojo says 9 years ago

mysterious alex disappears ~ made 25% with gold LOL

Reply
    Care says 9 years ago

    JoJo Alex did not disappear, just wondering by now does anyone here knows who exactly Alex is?

    Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

[email protected]

Not even 2 years and is gone.

Reply
    jojo says 9 years ago

    so expected… feel sad for those who invested

    Reply
Sujay says 9 years ago

New company name is Plantation Alliance Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

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    Frankie says 9 years ago

    Beginning of the end.

    Reply
    Depressing says 9 years ago

    Hi Sujay, Lilian, Eric and other investors of TFV…

    I have been sitting on the updates with TFAM but have finally gone one of these days.
    I got the same updates and decided to give the ‘seller’ cum ‘managing agent’ of the plantations whom I have invested in 2 years ago to further verify the possibility of ‘shit-i-have-been-scammed’ invesment.

    So here it goes, Classified Resources Sdn Bhd (CRSB), has confirmed that TFV has defaulted the purchase of plants in their plantations and did not pay for the agreed trees that they were supposed to purchase 2 years ago… 🙁 they have recenty received numerous calls from investors of TFV and they have explained the same to everyone. Not sure if anyone of you have heard about it yet but if you would like, please scan a copy of whatever contract you have with TFV to [email protected] (I googled for their contact number. You can call at +609 746 2346 to verify all that I have said here).

    To be honest, the fact that TRV is so called ‘ceased operations’ and TFAM at the same time having access to our file is dubious enough.

    I do not know what are the next steps we could do locally about this, like file a case or report to MAS?

    Alex, if you are reading this – since you are now with TFAM, perhaps you can shed some lights to this? Or is it that I am not talking to the right person or been fed with the wrong info?

    Thanks heap for Martin to not remove this post so that we can all share info here.

    Reply
      Sujay says 9 years ago

      Pass me ur email or ph no

      Reply
        Depressing says 9 years ago

        Hi Sujay,

        My email add is [email protected]

        Looking forward to hear from you.

        Reply
        Depressing says 9 years ago

        Hi Sujay,

        Here is my email add: [email protected]

        Looking forward to hearing your reply soonest.

        Reply
        summersnow says 9 years ago

        Hi Sujay,

        I would like to seek legal recourse with all of you. My email address is [email protected]

        Thanks.

        Reply
          jaya says 9 years ago

          I feel the same way too. Bought 40 trees fm them….the tookmy money n they have spoofed…closed down. My e mail is lakshmi.venuzc@ yahoo.com.sg
          Is there a collective recourse?

          Reply
            Care says 9 years ago

            Hi Sujay, may i know the purpose of asking for our emails and contacts, by the way the new company is not Plantation Alliance Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, this Plantation Alliance is also history. The company operate for a few months and happily closed down.

            Reply
Sujay says 9 years ago

I just tried their landline numbers 62210278, 62213528 and their is singltel announcement that number does not exist.

Reply
Sujay says 9 years ago

I have investest 12000/- with TFV. Recently I got call from TFVM (Tropical Forestry Venture Asset Management) at 72 Bendemeer Road (few guyz are same as TFV and New Horwest @ City Hall) saying that TFV at sago road china town is closed and we have taken over their client database.

They said now either you have to directly talk with thailand counterpart Or top-up 5K and we will give you $600 guaranteed money etc.etc. .

Has anyone else got similar call and have information about this development? These all people and company looks big fraud, cheating innocent people.

Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    It is true that TFV closed down, they are indeed no longer marketing in Singapore. My trees are still in Malaysia plantation and I am worried about the recent heavy floods. I took the offer from tropical forestry assets management to upgrade mth trees to 2year old and shift my trees to Thailand. I am going to tropical assets Management’s plantation visit this comin. April. Some off the staffs that were dismissed by TFV joined assets Management.

    Reply
      Sujay says 9 years ago

      I think you have inside view of company and may be interest as well. Can you let us know what happened with your visit?

      Also advice with your knowledge what others should be doing who don’t want to pay additional money to Plantation Alliance Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. Because history might be repeating soon.

      Reply
      KillScammer says 7 years ago

      http://ihatescammer.simplesite.com

      Reply
    Sandy says 9 years ago

    Looks Alex is insider of TFV. Don’t pay any more money. You offer them to change min $400 to $300, so that thay can get $300 profit for each tola. Its bullshit.

    Reply
    Eric says 9 years ago

    Hi Sujay, I had the similiar problem same as you. I invested 50 trees in TFV and recently they change management to TFVM and asking to upgrade my tree as well. I don’t buy the idea and insist to remain as is. When I ask about selling my tree when it reached semi mature trees and the agent told me they cannot help as the land is not bought over by them. You have to bring your timber cert and seek assistance from Thailand counterpart.

    I really worried I can’t get back my investment. Anyway that we can seek legal channel to direct our concern?

    Reply
      Sujay says 9 years ago

      Pass me ur email or ph no

      Reply
DavidNG says 9 years ago

Attended the same seminar by Asia Plantation Capital last Saturday.in E&O Hotel
Paid RM1000 booking fee, (refundable) for 200 tress…RM144K
Then wanted to withdraw; now they lowered to 50 trees @ RM720 per tree RM36K

They look very good on paper and hey even shown me the annual report. Looks good too.
The have own perfume Fragrance Du Bois.
They even sponsored Formula I to market their perfume

Now their NEW office in Paragon Gurney 12th floor !~ they told me they signed a 6 year rental lease..

Anyone invested ~ Pls share ~ I need to decide by this Friday, tomorrow!

Thanks

Reply
    Steve F says 9 years ago

    My advice is don’t do it. If you believe a long lease is “proof” of a reliable company I suggest you look at Ecohouse who last year signed a 13 year lease in London which they’ve just abandoned. Look at people who own useless Profitable Plots in London and can’t do anything with them. The risk is not the commodity price. The risk is your commodity sits in a tree that may or may not exist, managed by people that may or may not exist, in a foreign country where you have no legal rights or no ability to execute a contract.
    Over and over again these schemes come up and they regularly fail. Offices close, salespeople move on and people with tens of thousands invested wonder why they can’t get anything back for the product they paid for. Ask yourself when your local sales office closes who will you call for your money?

    Reply
      DavidNG says 9 years ago

      Thanks Martin and thanks Steve..
      Appreciate this website..

      Reply
Luckyman says 9 years ago

FYI , Chinatown office also marketing Vietnamese plantation. I am their old client since 2012 with tropical forestry co.

Reply
    Lilian says 9 years ago

    anyone else got invitated and visited the plantation other than Alex?

    Reply
      Lilian says 9 years ago

      Hi Alex

      Finally i confirm u are 1 of the seller………….all the best to TFV on the moving to their new premises and may the business flourish and I can get back my $.

      Thanks.

      Reply
Roy says 9 years ago

Hi Lilian,

You might want to check with your agent again, what is the status of your plantation is it still under Malaysia. Previously I sign up at Chinatown I not too sure if they are still operating there…

The office I go now is Adelphi Building at beside Funan Centre.

Roy

Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

Roy

Mine is malaysia plantation under TFV, chinatown.
Nothing about Thailand n Vietnam.
A lady, Linda brief me on the contract portion.
U still wanna top up?
if it prove on-going, i m keen but no more voucher.

Reply
Roy says 9 years ago

Hi Dave,

In every investment there is risk in it, for me I explore alot of investment products before I decided to go ahead with it. If want to make money you must be able to take the risk and believe in it that all I can say.

There are many financial and commodities investment which have high and low risk so it depend on your risk level.

Reply
    Dave@ says 9 years ago

    Hi Roy,

    Do you mind to have a chat to share your risk?

    I would like to know more about this oil thingy.
    [email protected]

    Reply
Alex says 9 years ago

Yah you are not an investor that’s all i can say.

Reply
balaji says 9 years ago

i also happen to meet up with this seminar ! its in china town ! they tried at till the end to make me invest on the spot which no one will do so !
i just took the vouchers for that 1hrs and more period
what can u do if the company just vanished like that, can do nothing!

Reply
Roy says 9 years ago

HI Lilian,

I bought it this June 14, 25 trees @ SGD 6,250.00. Will top up more to make it 40 trees by December.
Previously was under TFV under Thailand plot, have move to U – Harvest under Vietnam Plot.
Which U-Harvest purely handle the Vietnam Plot only.

This time round in my contract have stated $600 per tora for your info.

Which plot previously you have invested in?

Roy

Reply
    Dave says 9 years ago

    Hi Roy,

    How much you know about Agarwood and the oil extract?

    Why are you so convinced with the return promised?

    Dave

    Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

Roy – same but I can only afford 5k.
.When did u invested?

Reply
Eric says 9 years ago

Correction : the company’s name should read as Asia Plantation Capital Pte Ltd.

Reply
Eric says 9 years ago

I am based in KL and was approached recently by Asia Pacific Capital Ltd which is supposed to be based in Singapore with agarwood plantation in Thailand. The minimum investment is like 200 trees , or around RM125k . The rest of the detail is somewhat similar to all those discussed earlier . I am not familiar with the company , hence, even though the presentation is perfect , I didn’t decide to take up there and then. Anyway , the RM100 Aeon vouchers makes the time spent on the session all worth it .

Reply
styx says 9 years ago

Hi Martin,

Pertaining to your question on individual? When there’s a subtle promotion on the positive end or, for the matter, you have been suggested a certain punishment for encouraging negativity on, alternative investments. It is time for you to scroll through your conversations over…..again. You will be provided the answer to your question put forward to the individual, per Se.

Reply
Roy says 9 years ago

Hi,

I bought my at SGD 250.00 per trees total of 25 trees from TFV.

Reply
JOSHUACHING says 9 years ago

guys, i think …. why not we just wait 3-4 years, then see if it still survive, then we evaluate again…
now any argument seems might not help much. =(

Reply
    Frankie says 9 years ago

    The funny thing happening here is that is seem to be Alex is the only one defending this company. Is there nobody else like to speak up for this agarwood investment.

    Reply
Martin Lee says 9 years ago

Dear Alex,

are you from any of these companies or are you purely an investor?

Reply
    Jack says 9 years ago

    Good question!! I have met with some TFV ex-colleagues (now working for other companies) and they are too skeptical (more than 100% sure) that investors will not get their money back.

    There are so many scams and defaults in Singapore (latest are, Africa real estate company and now Yoga center got closed after 10 yrs in operation) without any noose on such investment companies by regulators its hard to believe unless they start giving money back post their 1-2 year locking period.

    Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    I had invested in TFV for 1 year 7 months already. I understand the entire business background of the TFV. I even know the companies that TFV is selling their oil to. Also the details of the 2 year plans, how they make their profit even investors sell the trees back to them.

    Martin, finally i got respond from you. please contact me ASAP.

    Jack I believe you never been to TFV office yourself and I also believe that u do not do any investment either? African real estate? yoga membership? These are the things you cannot find any info on the internet not even registered in Singapore ACRA how can you invest and compare with TFV? TFV is a member of Singapore Business Federation do you know that? Do you know what international licences TFV is holding? You really looking for trouble… god bless you if you still continue to do groundless accusations.

    Reply
James says 9 years ago

Hi, i got approached by one of the sales staff from Plantation Alliance. She offered me a “discount” rate of $2,750 for 5 SMT trees.

She also said that I had either 2 options:
1) Resale the tree after 1 year.
2) Wait for 4 years until its harvesting period and get back much more.

I’m just curious to know if you guys think its legit. For me $2,750 is a small sum an I can afford to lose it in the worst case.

They said Plantation Alliance has been running for almost 3 years now, and they have a plantation in Malaysia as well. The trees offered to me however are going to be grown in Vietnam, and I saw all the permits etc. Advice?

Reply
    Lilian says 9 years ago

    that works out to be $550 per tree?

    Reply
      James says 9 years ago

      yup $550 per tree. the “usual” price was at $600, but im pretty sure its been marked up a lot as well.

      Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    Plantation Alliance did they give you their brochure? What i know their parent company is Tropical Forestry Venture, Plantation Alliance legally appointed by TFV, that’s what TFV director had shown me.
    Semi mature trees do worth around 500-600 bucks this year, it is much higher compared to 450 bucks 3 years back. I do see that it will increase because when I went to Malaysia plantation they are marketing more then RM1500 per tree for 2-2.5 years old trees to all those huge perfume makers.
    They do ask me to buy some SMT also as it can liquidate after a year. Well after seeing the returns%, I to stay with saplings because it can easily double after 2 years. The returns is much better then I buy semi mature trees as I can buy more trees.
    I been to Asia Plantation before and many other investment firms. I only invested in 2 companies currently, it is extremely hard to find such investment that can offer such a tiny package and good returns which allows public to worth a try. That’s all i can say, it is up to individual to decided how you plan for yourself 3 years and 6 years down the road.

    Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

All, care to share what are the prices u paid or offer for your per tree?

Reply
roy says 9 years ago

Hi Alex,

Thanks for sharing, atleast I know i’m on the right track…
To make the right decision and make money that is the most important thing.

If possible when you get your returns back, do advise on the value per trees.
My plan is to take back my return in 2 years time which will be early 2017.

Reply
Alex says 9 years ago

Roy,
The unit is Tola, which is around 12ml. Tola an old measurement of mass used to measure gold and silver in southern Asia.
1 tree minimum can produce 2 tola, TFV plantation in Malaysia can produce at least 4.3 tola according to their records. The technology all these agarwood has is commonly called CA kit which you can find in the internet easily. In order to have this kit u need special license and growing agarwood u also need approval from CITES to harvest them.
A tola price is not longer SGD $600 today, the price has gone up more than $700 already. This is indeed the package but my package is a bit special, much better then what you mentioned. ^-^

Reply
roy says 9 years ago

Hi Alex,

Mind sharing how the package is offer to you?

TFV mentioned this to me:

(i) 1 tree can produce 1 – 6 tora of agar per tree, TFV guarantee 4 tora agar if the tree does not grow produce 6.

(ii) 4 tora x market price per tree (SGD 600 – SGD 700) x no. of tree purchased.

(iii) Capital will be the no. of purchased + 15 – 18 % of harvesting = (ii) minus (iii)

Right?

Reply
Alex says 9 years ago

I invested through the director of TFV who is also a shareholder of the company. It took me slight more then a month to do my due diligent before I put in my $10,000. This is part of the reason why I can go for a trip to their plantation through the connection of the director.
What I had found out from my own source is that the return of agarwood is actually a lot more then what they mentioned. If you owns the plantation and you sell the oil yourself, the return is more then 1000% which is 10 times. It is slightly higher compared to coffee plantation 10-15 years back.
I asked the TFV director last week about U haversted, she revealed to me that TFV do have a sub company under their banner which is Plantation Alliance Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. It is located in the same building as TFV. This sub company is currently doing roadshows and marketing under the banner of TFV and their plantations. She revealed to me that indeed some of the TFV staffs went over to U-harvest.
What I see from above comments are the common when you met hard selling people. I am currently holding a position as a marketing manager, i used to work as in the sales industry before. I also do not like hard selling because it turns me off too, but for some companies that’s how they work.
Guys take my advise, if you have neither invested in the company before nor they have yet proven any bad records, do not point fingers and said they are scams. You will get yourself into trouble one of this days if you keep slandering others without solid proof.

Reply
    Antony Bell says 9 years ago

    I am sorry but this is real Bull S**t, 1 tola of Oudh Oil even in Saudi Arabia does not sell for $900 USD. 1kg (1Liter) sells wholesale for $10,500 USD wholesale or $30,000 USD retail. How do I know this? I work for the Treedom group, we supply some of the worlds biggest perfume manufactures and Oud Oil retailers around the world including Saudi Arabia. In fact as I write, we are at a conference in Saudi Arabia about Oud.
    Treedom is the no.1 company exporter of Oud oil in Thailand (check-able by CITIES) we have been in existence 10yrs.

    Questions you should be asking the company who you are to invest with…

    1. Can the existence of Oud oil buyers be proven?

    A list of existing Oud oil buyers and business partners will prove the legitimacy of the company and reveal the quality of the Oud oil. The added benefit for a client is it exhibits whether the company has actually sold any oil at all, a proven exit if you will. Treedom is happy to provide sales invoices and overall figures showing that our Oud oil has been sold to some of the largest perfume houses in the world and the largest distributors in the Middle East.

    2. Does the company have a factory to process the feedstock supply trees?

    This is the most essential question to ask, as some companies do not own their own facility. Are they reliant on a third party processor? Ownership and operation of a factory indicates that the company is stable and is self-reliant. Treedom’s factory has 165 stills and can process 2,640 trees per month. The company is in a major expansion stage and has a licence to operate 360 stills in the future.
    If the factory you are shown only has 40 stills, ask yourself the questions:
    how many trees can this factory process?
    can my trees go to this factory at the time they are due along with all the other trees that clients have bought at the same time as me?
    Each still can only process 3 trees and you can only process 3 times in the month, therefore each Still can only process 9 trees each month. SO if the factory has only a few Stills, how is it going to process all the trees it sells?

    3. Does the company have a sound business model?

    Companies in this sector should have a sound business model outlining:
    (i) each stage from nursery to plantation to inoculation to Oud oil manufacturing production to actual sale
    (ii) the time period in each stage
    (iii) demonstrate the returns that will be used to pay your fixed buy back price.
    (iv) a clear strategy should things not go according to plan, such as tree death

    4. Do you have a proven inoculation formula and process? Do you own the patent?

    The only way that you can profit from an Agarwood tree is if it produces black resinous wood. The black resinous wood can be produced naturally in the wild, but can take up to 100 years and only occurs in 5% of trees. In the case of managed plantations it is induced by an inoculation formula and process. If the company does not have an inoculation formula process, the trees will be worthless as they will be unable to produce Oud oil. Remember this information can be researched and proven just by a little googling and calling around

    5. What is The company’s background and performance track record?

    You can again check this even if the company is not in Singapore. Get a lawyer to check them out via companies house, get public audited accounts and do some digging. If the company has only been going for a few years, I would suggest that they are not going to be selling Oud oil as yet. That will mean they have no idea on how much anything really costs or can be actually sold for.

    I am not saying invest with us and not them and I am not saying this is a scam, but dont listen to hype, take it from someone that has been in this business successfully for the past 10yrs.

    Reply
      Alex says 9 years ago

      You are in the field for so many years, do you know what is ANT inducement? This inducement patent early this year, you can find it in the internet. There are many inducement methods, Vietnam has the latest ones which Malaysia and Thailand currently do not have or they are outdated. I suggest u fly there and take a look yourself. 10k USD per litre? That grade must be pretty bad. Do you know that you can produce oil as high as 50k USD per liter from plantation? Your company may be big but might not produce the best oil in the region. Talk about track records? Why your company cannot produce the grade while some others is able to? Today even Morocco is planting vietnam saplings but they are not able to produce high grade even using the same inducement. So what went wrong? There are oil grade which cost over 2000USD in the market and do you know how they plant it? Go Europe and find companies like Dior, Gucci and Tomford, ask them where they get their oud oil from. 10 years ago ur company is big but now others are catching up. Dun look down on other companies. Vietnam plantations also have business dealing with UAE besides Europe.

      Reply
snow says 9 years ago

I was at the U harvest seminar last week, Was also offered a package deal of each tree $250 and buyback 2 years later. Ask me what i think of the scheme. told them the returns very attractive but need to do more research. Ask me how long i need to do my research and how much budget i am looking to, Told them i need one week and if investable, looking at 100 trees.
yes, returns would be good as after 2 years, sell back the tree to them at min $400, ie profit of $150 per tree, 60% returns where to find. after 6 years, returns more than $100K..very tempting right..
They told me to put a deposit so that they can reserve the trees and also the package offer will not be available after one week. i told me no , no point pay deposit and later dun want then withdraw. keep pestering me until i told them got to go as I have a dinner appt as i was told only one hour presentation and has made another appt. . i was told it need s15 mins to prepare the ntuc voucher but i insist i am late and must leave now. She called the manager and immediately i could collect the voucher, What a joke.

I am sure this is a scam.

Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    How do you know they are scams? Do you have information?

    Reply
      snow says 9 years ago

      When i ask how my returms be gurantee, i was told the company U-harvets will gurantee. I asked when is the capital of the company, the manager told me $24K…(not sure he knows what he is talking), how could 24K gurantee the payout in 2 years if i invested 100 trees.
      Next, he said company also buys tree and thus these tress also form the gurantee.
      told me no risk. asked again can lose the trees…told me again gurantee by the Vietnam agriculture board that tree in forest will be protetced and also the trees will be under my name.. Show me a certicate issued by the Vietname company stating the the tress belong to U -harvest. Interesting, the certificate just indicate Plot A, Plot B Plot C…with no information as to where is the forest, the location of the tree etc.

      Reply
        Alex says 9 years ago

        Oh my god the manager actually tell you these?! Where got such thing as no risk? Even bus company dare not say no risk when you board the bus. Sounds like he does not know much about his trade, not professional at all. Quite a number of details and information are missing…

        Reply
          Tito says 8 years ago

          Is the TGV confirmed as scam? seeing Alex here supported strongly it, just like to hear now what is your say on this…?

          Meanwhile you mentioned something unreliable about U Harvest, this is not out of due to you being from TGV attacking rival? Or I am wrong that there is connection among all these companies?

          I am just a nobody investor just encountered and to find out more about this bizzare alternative investment scheme.

          Reply
roy says 9 years ago

Anyone purchased trees from Amanda Lim (Senior Sales Manager from TFV) from here?

Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    I bought from the director of TFV.

    Reply
    Suvanaragam says 9 years ago

    Hi , I ‘m Indian come from India 10 years ago .I invested with a young pretty girl name Ashley in 2013 . The manager in charge was Lewis something .
    At first I told the manager i need time to consider ,he managed to convince me to proceed after he showed me the importance of investment , the benefit of this investment , the returns etc ( power man in persuading ) . I gave a try with 6k package with fexible installment plan after the end of discussion .
    I go there every month to pay installment and the admin girl are friendly and nice too .
    Next year I want to sell my trees because I need to buy house in India .

    Reply
Kelm says 9 years ago

Guys..Yesterday i attended this program(U Harvest Pte Ltd)..this is total bullshit scam..at one point of time i got pissed off and decided to leave the place but still they tried to brainwash me and forcing to sign up..

Finally one manager came asked me do u have concern about the environment,i said yes,he asked why don’t u donate for just one tree..i said,no..then he asked,so u don’t have concern about any people..i said its not like that..then he asked,so in future if everyone died because of environment is it ok…at this point,i cant control my anger and said ,i don’t care and said i am leaving..then he said,i will bring ntuc voucher..at that moment,i wanted to escape that place..so i decided not to take the voucher and escaped from that place

Even that lady followed me till the lift and convincing me..

They forced me reserve the package ust paying 500SGD,and then 100SGD..and then 50 SGD and then 30 SGD…for all i said,i will discuss with my wife and let u know..they said..you are adult to take decision immediately..

BE VERY CAREFUL guys..Don’t go there..their address is in The Adelphi,05-04A,Colomen St,near Citi hall mrt..

Reply
    Jack says 9 years ago

    Is that lady name Tiffany, she was earlier working at TFV……!

    Reply
      Care says 9 years ago

      Jack, for your information Tiffany is not a lady. She is a HE, can’t you tell?

      Reply
Alex says 9 years ago

Lilian i am also doing gold coins investment which is giving me 25% every month. My apologies that I am not going to mention here because there are too many negative people who likes to pass negative remarks without knowing all the details of this business. If you want to know more email me at [email protected]. To go for the plantation trip, the minimum investment is 10k for them to cover the cost of your trip. You can go at your own cost just call and arrange with them will do.
David come on la, if you not interested just tell them you do not want to invest. No money just tell them no money, why give excuses? If your client tell you his/her problem I am sure you will take it that they interested but require assistance right? Go straight to the point dun give people false hope. Brother, nothing is too good to be true la. People can become rich or bankrupt overnight. I assume that you already shut yourself off from a better outcome and you are only expecting for bankruptcy am i right? If a company have not cheated a single cent and you have not even invest with them before, do not say they are scam. You mindset also belongs to those negative ones and likes to comment based on your own imagination or theory. People trying to help you, yet you say they are are scam. You ok or not?

Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

the locking period is 2 years……….probably need investors’ $ to buy the trees.
I still need to struggle with them for another year………just got to pray hard company dun shut.
i had requested for vistation to plantation for the past year but nothing materialised………..could my investment to be too little?

alex – what investment can give 25% return every month?

robin – so did u buy any trees? $300 deposit how?

Reply
    David says 9 years ago

    When something seem too good to be true, it usually is.
    The music is so loud and the whole place crawling with salespeople with suit and tie and most of the time they can’t answer my questions.
    They placed a board selling pre matured trees.
    And they are offering to buy back my trees after 2 years Guaranteed !
    So contradicting when that they are also looking for buyers for 2 year old trees.
    And this is like timeshare when I can’t think it over unless I put a 10% booking fee.
    I told them I don’t have NETs just to give an excuse. They said they can follow me to withdraw money from ATM.
    Makes me even more frightened of them. As if they needed the money so badly.
    The one and only unique investment that is done looking so scam even if it is not.

    Reply
Alex says 9 years ago

Naveen i will post here for sure. I agree with Leon, being skeptical is good because u are protecting yourself. However if you are over skeptical, nothing good will come to you. Even if i put a real gold bar in front of you, the decision you make will surely be negative. This is mindset between what u believe and what u refuse to believe. What you think is good, might not be the best and you have always listen more and judge with open mind. If every moment think a business will burst, you do not have an open neutral mind, you will always get all the peanuts.
Joshua this is not the way you do investment, where got business owner print their IC and give 2000 over investors? If you are the owner will you do that? Sounds ridiculous, which era you are living in? Go to ACRA and check if they are registered in Singapore or not, you can see the company details easily and even the owner’s address is reflected inside.
In business it’s all about speed, to win your competitors and earn more money you got to expand faster. How much loan can 1 person take? This business model is so common nowadays, getting public to join and boost their capital and assets then go listed in Singapore then get more money from public by selling their shares and buy more land earn more money and faster profit. All local banks in Singapore also use this method during their early days. Maxi cash also used this method to expand. I am not surprised that you do not understand why they do not take loan from bank because you do not have experience in business investment at all.
Now many bank investment can give you dividends of 5% but do you know how many times is the bank earning? In early days banks also offer very high returns up to 50%. Today they are so establish that’s why you only see peanuts, why should they give you so much now if they can roll money themselves without your money? Investment is about your foresight and when is the time you enter. Everything you are so negative about then forget about investment, just be a follower and play shares and trade stocks. Whenever a company get listed, they are already very establish and you forget about high returns. They will not open up business plans to the public anymore because they can do every expansion themselves they do not need you at all. Wilmar international is a very good example, this is what the real business world is about and it is very very very very common already for so many decades .
In stock and shares there are more then 10 factors that cause it to crash and no one can control over it. Business is all about the demands and the concept which risk can be measured, controlled and greatly lowering the chance of crash. Even it crash you still can sell agarwood oil away at a cheaper price, you will not reduced to zero because it is tangible and the demand is ALWAYS there. Not like stocks papers that can become waste papers when company is suspended or gone.
Same scenario when you buy McDonald shares or you choose their franchise. What is the possibility that their franchise will lose money and close down if the stocks market crashes? Will their restaurant open as usual and earn money everyday? Today 1 MacDonald franchise easily cost you over a million bucks in Malaysia, 30 years back do you know how cheap is to franchise with them? This is the foresight you need to have when you do investment which is not a skill that you can pick up by studying, It’s all on your mindset about figuring out how to do it or think about it and do nothing and forget it.

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    Naveen says 9 years ago

    Thanks Alex and Leon. Lets wait for time and see how the things are going. When I contacted them with my concern. They pacified with return money after locking period and tried to sell another 5K trees in vietnam with 1 yr locking , 4 yr maturity and min guarantee $600. They are master of their art.

    Reply
      Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

      We have to make wise judgement and must know that we only use extra money to invest and dont be too greedy. Where have any investment no risk right ? Just have to weight ourself if the risk can be afford or not. I invest in the company now profit 100% in 2 years only. Pls let me know anyone interested.

      Reply
Leon says 9 years ago

If so skeptical about investment , pls do not enter the field .just safely keep your money in your bank .
If you want to diversify your money into secure n profitable investment . Take the risk .
As far as I concerned , there are a few big player in the market marketing agarwood investment and one has been in sg for almost 4 years plus .
Agarwood plantations eventually sells the oils to the perfumery industry .hence the plantations management make big profit from wood and leaves after harvesting the tree at the end of 5 to 7 yrs period .
moral of the story – investor gain profit from the sales of oil and plantation make lots of profit from the wood and leaves after sales to different industries .

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alex says 9 years ago

Friends who knows nothing it’s easy for them to say no to you. 6-7 years later when the company is paying investors money, will ur friends pay you because they made u lose a money making chance?
Dun be naive and listen to negative people here. I also invested in agarwood, u want to see ur trees call the company up to make an arrangement for the trip la! ! Timber industry is tightly regulated internationally even in Singapore because of the united nation convention regulations.
If you are conservative and timid do not invest anything new. Go to stocks and shares or funds and earn ur miserable dividends. If the market crash, god bless u. Timber index has never crash in the market before.
Agriculture will surely be one of the best investment in future because of the technology that guarantee the harvest. Read up Mr Peter Lim profile on how he setup up Wilmar international and how much he earn in less then 20 years.
If u are dumb if listen to people saying no without finding out more, you will always lose opportunities.
MAS regulated does not means it is safe. Lehman brothers, AIG and even Citi bank are very good examples. Even Singapore property flop before due to market crash also.
However have u ever seen food price or oil price in any country stop going up? Think and check before u say, do not slander a company as scam, they can sue u.

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    Naveen says 9 years ago

    Hi Alex, Thanks. You are the only person having +ve opinion about the TFV, have you invested in aggarwood. All investment proposals are good as they explain but question is whats credibility of company. After 7 years If they shut and runaway how the investor will recover their money. I have invested 15 K with them and now bit worried.

    TFV has registered in May-Jun 2012. U harvest Pte Ltd has registered in May-Jun 2014. Has anyone en cashed with TFV after 2 year locking period?? Howz your experience and return?

    Reply
      Alex says 9 years ago

      Negative people always bang on new companies that do not have credibility. Of course la! That’s common sense what’s so surprising when they trying to scare you with this? I had a few investments here and there, for Agarwood i invested 10K with TFV. I had check with them last month and I am sure getting at least a 24k cheque (inclusive of my capital) around next year April.
      There is one investment that I lost such which is the gold company that was being confiscated by government. Many people has taken money from this company before but still the company burst. From this I learnt a lesson, I need to be clear of what is the business involved for all the companies I investing in. What is my return and how these companies sustain is very important.
      Many people always says the return is too good to be true, I have another investment that gives me 25% every month and it is very low risk how does this sounds, too good to be true? Anyway i am already getting my money monthly and for TFV i am definitely getting my capital back next year.
      I have really done all my homework before i put in my money, TFV do have the potential to get listed in Singapore if we give them another 3-4 years just like Wilmar international. Well, if you worry TFV shut down, you can always go to the plantation to get your money because the plantation is the one that is harvesting and selling the oil to other industries directly and they have your profile in their database. Therefore the plantation itself do have the money to pay you. This is how plantation companies and their management works in overseas also.
      Navee I think you need to book an appointment with them to go to their plantation just like me. Ask them all these questions you have, you can see things in more details rather then asking around here. Most of the people here do not know the supporting authorities for other investment and have no such experience in other alternative investments also. Besides MAS regulations, they know nothing about business

      Reply
      joshuac says 9 years ago

      hi naveen

      hi, no offence ya, i just feel that, alex’s comment, generally speaking, is difficult to argue.
      yes , when u lose opportunity, nobody will compensate u money,
      but if u lose money due to company run away, i not sure who will give u back money as well.

      ————————————–
      agriculture, technology, timber index, yes all these could be real,
      i just afraid that the ‘middle man’ company, may not be.
      anyway, my concern is more towards a person’s well being, than the right or wrong.

      ————————————–
      1. be dare,
      your money is important to you, so have u thought before,
      asking for the company boss’ IC and check his residential address?
      i try that before, so that if anything happen, i can still look for him.
      the boss feel very uneasy and refuse, then he divert the topic,
      haha….ofcos…bcos when talk about responsibility, usually seldom have people willing to take.

      ————————————–

      2. be patience
      since u already put in money, i got nothing to say.
      but in future, if you face the same thing again,
      are u willing to be patience to wait for few years to see if company can survive?
      yes, u might lose opportunity, but compare that, losing your 1 year saving in 1 day….
      (the day you pass money to them) u might want to consider be patient.

      ————————————–
      3. be skillful,
      are u willing to learn some skillset in financial area?
      eg…monitoring finance market and learn to trade well, in stock, option, forex etc

      bcos it is something that will be with u forever, and will condition your mindset for financial market, ofcos you need to paper trade practise first before put in real money,
      and once u can trade proficiently and earn consistently,
      then u can move on from that ‘miserable dividend’ to some ‘dignity income’ .

      oh btw FYI, i just happen to discover US comapny : GlaxoSmithKline plc, give about 10% dividend, higher than macdonald 7%, hm….interesting,
      and, ofcos u need to learn to choose the right stock, and have some protection & exit plan,
      so that it don’t ‘drop’ to zero, or even before it does that, u would have exit already.

      ————————————–
      (interesting….why people always like to use this statement ‘drop to zero’ to create fear? instead of teaching them skill to know when to get in and get out,
      could it be, they themselves dont have the knowledge, or dont bother to learn?
      question of the day #1 =(

      ————————————–

      4. be restful
      ok back to topic, why ‘dignity’?
      bcos money is in your control, u can cash out from ur trading acc any time,
      also u dont have to live life under people mercy, imagine that company failed or delay to pay up or anything, then u become worried, then go argue or fight with them, just to take back your own money…etc… i been through that before, i learn it a hard way.
      just be cool and patience, at the same time, make some humble profit from trading.

      ————————————–
      5. question of the day #2

      if i have an investment that, most likely (ofcos not 100%) can earn big profit.
      i think i will go to bank, to borrow more money, since the bank’s interest, generally speaking,
      is lower than, the return that i need to pay to investor.
      so what could be the possible reason that a company want to open for public,
      and gather money from public investor? hm….. =/

      how about u? what do u think ?

      ————————————–
      6.
      i only have some rough guess,
      a.
      company dont have track record to prove, bank may scrutinize it,
      hence end up, can not lend much money, or no lending at all.
      after all, some business is a luxury, not a necessity.
      b.
      if investment turn bad, i guess company may not really have to be responsible for too much?
      bcos a group of individual sueing me, might be less power than a bank sueing me ??

      ————————————–

      ok, thats all for my 2 cent opinion.
      keep u in prayer that u can get back ur money soon.
      God bless.

      Reply
        Naveen says 9 years ago

        Thanks Alex and joshuac. You both sounds reasonable.

        Now I can’t do much and need to hold my breadth for 2 year locking to be passed i.e. by Dec’15 and I should expect to get between 38-43 K inclusive of my 15 K investment. Take out principal money and some profit out and try again. If you check with company they will tend to give more lucrative offer and lure you to invest more. I just pray that company should atleast last by another 1-1.5 year.

        Alex, can you post your experience when you able to encash your profit in April.

        Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Yes I agreed. We have to make wise judgement and must know that we only use extra money to invest and dont be too greedy. Where have any investment no risk right ? Just have to weight ourself if the risk can be afford or not. I invest in the company now profit 100% in 2 years only. Pls let me know anyone interested.

    Reply
Naveen says 9 years ago

Hi,

Is Tropical forestry ventures pte ltd at Chinatown and Adephi (U Harvest Pte Ltd) are the same company?

Reply
    Robin W says 9 years ago

    They are supposed to be affiliated. U harvest sells plot in Vietnam while TFV focus on Malaysia. They says that they have new technologies & moving to Indonesia. From.what I understand, not everywhere can plant agarwood trees as it requires better soil. Somehow it seems like now so many tropical countries can plant too. Now I’m stuck with a $300 deposit. Went back to take back but the Manager reduced to 10trees instead of 20. Wanted to go in to try but really no success story can be found.

    Reply
    alex says 9 years ago

    Neveen u can call up tropical forestry venture Singapore main line or walk in to ask them. They will be glad to answer ur queries.

    Reply
RY says 9 years ago

I went to the Forestry briefing in 2012 (Tropical at Chinatown) recently at Adephi (U Harvest) and they even show me the videm news introducing agarwood investment

Their concept is the same as those hotelsharing/travel scam or even the gold buyback or landbanking, with music so loud to disrupt your thinking and even they made sure you sit at certain position with reasons behind.

When I question them if the ROI is so lucrative at 100% or more, why didnt the govt of these countries invest themselves or even world billionaires “Warren Buffer” invest and they replied SG Temasek Holdings already into this investment 10 years back.

Then I ask them if their investment is under MAS jurisdiction, they said under SBF.

I told them there are many lawyers and Prosecutor offices in Adephi Bldg, the manager asked me if I am working with govt (you can see that kind of suspicious look on his face)

Hope MAS can tighten such scam investments in SG

Reply
    Alex says 9 years ago

    It is OK that you never heard of investing in trees, you can take local billionaire Mr Peter Lim’s case study and understand how he started up Wilmar international. He started investing in trees since 1996 and has never lose a single cent till today despite going through world financial crisis. Such Commodities investment is already very common and popular in overseas like US, England or even Australia for 100 over years because it is sustainable. A good investor at the correct time, if you still not convince then too bad for you.
    Mr Martin Lee, I am from Tropical Forestry Venture Singapore, I am tasked to contact you from the higher management of my company. Our company is a member of the Singapore Business Federation and all the asset they are holding is genuine and legal. On behalf of Tropical Forestry Venture Singapore Pte Ltd, I hereby inform you that you are defaming our company reputation. By 14th of Sept 2014 if you still fail to contact us or remove this blog, we are going to take legal actions against you. A police report will be done and we will escalate the case to the court through our lawyers.

    Reply
      V says 9 years ago

      Till now blog still here…. What’s next?

      Reply
      Ah Zhu Ah Gou says 8 years ago

      Ah Pig ah Dog can be a member of Singapore Business Federation with $300 + gst. So what next?

      Reply
      Cheng Ming Yu says 8 years ago

      Well Alex, your company is in the news today.

      You can go ahead and sue Straits Times for defamation as well. Oh what the hell, criminals don’t turn up in court, do they?

      Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

Dear Martin

I went also because of the Go Green campaign, save environment…etc.
Location was at Chinatown, not sure still around after more than a year.
I wanted to withdraw but was so afraid that they inform that the $ invested are gone.
Promised on the plantation visit and till now, nothing materialise and have not hear from them since.
Should I call them?

Reply
    joshuaching says 9 years ago

    Lilian,
    Your money is important to u,
    Go look for them, question them or whatever to find out…etc..
    Usually if office gone, here gone the business.
    Or at least make polise report. Do something about it.
    Fear to failure is worse than failure itself.
    No point drag too long.
    Be strong, u can do it!

    Reply
    Adeline Woon says 8 years ago

    Hi Lilian

    Have you get back your money ? What is the outcome now ?

    Reply
joshua ching says 9 years ago

i attend the same thing on 18Aug, it is by a new company named ‘U harvest’ ,
at adelphy building ay city hall area.

actually when facing this kind of investment, one very simple and rough method to test out.
is to wait about 3-4 yrs time, usually a scam won’t last that long.
at the same time, u might want to learn some skill to grow your money,

for me, i learn how to trade stock, option & forex. so far so good, at least it allow me to cool down and not easily be persuaded to jump into any investment, since i am still earning some money with my skill anyway, hence no harm to wait for that few yrs time.

ok just my 2cent opinion.
oh btw, i also take voucher and be gone. haha =)

Reply
    Martin Lee says 9 years ago

    Nice one, Joshua. 🙂 Are they still using the same Go Green pitch?

    Reply
      joshua says 9 years ago

      martin,
      may i ask, what is ‘go green’ pitch?
      so far they are only using,’if you don’t buy now, u might lose a big opportunity to earn money,
      bcos after few years, the cost will increase, and hence your profit will be much less….etc”

      Reply
        Martin Lee says 9 years ago

        Dear Joshua,

        It was their telemarketing pitch.

        “I received a call the other day from a company “Eco Global Network” inviting me for a “Go Green” campaign. It was supposed to be a talk to spread awareness on environmental issues”

        Reply
Lilian says 9 years ago

i had leave $5k w them since last year. What’s your suggestion?

Reply
    Martin Lee says 9 years ago

    Dear Lilian, I’m afraid you are stuck. 🙁

    Reply
    Patrick says 8 years ago

    Hi Lilian, Did they keep you update. Thanks. Patrick.

    Reply
Steve F says 10 years ago

Martin while the UK authorities have no jurisdiction in Singapore I know some companies claim they are regulated in the UK as a “proof” of credibility. You may not be aware but following the 2008 financial crisis review the UK FSA is gone and is now replaced by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The FCA seems to be more practical and pragmatic than its predecessor and has warnings on investments in trees here

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams/investment-scams/overseas-property-and-crop-schemes

and land banking here

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams/investment-scams/land-banking

These links also suggests that some deals are structured in the ways to avoid UK regulation and that some companies using a UK regulated company for cash collection suggest the whole process is regulated which it is not.

Based on failed Agarwood companies that were closed down in the UK I would advise your readers to see and understand the whole process “soil to oil” including payment and cost schedules and get any statements or commitments made in writing.

Reply
    Martin Lee says 10 years ago

    Dear Steve,

    Thanks for sharing. I didn’t know Agarwood is being touted as an investment opportunity in the UK as well.

    Reply
Ken says 10 years ago

I just went for the talk n the exact same thing happened.. speaker not there, etc…

Reply
    Martin Lee says 10 years ago

    Dear Ken, well we can only guess why the same exact thing happened.

    Reply
Guy who loves to be cheated says 10 years ago

Have anyone ever try this out and get returns out of this?

Reply
Jeffrey says 10 years ago

Why not mentioned the name? Correct me if i am wrong…the company name is Tropical Forestry Venture. I have been in agricultural sector for so many years, and had invested many agricultural investment products, Based on my industry knowledge and due diligence check…. this company is definitely a No No for me. There are few legitimate and genuine agricultural companies out there, but stay away from this one.

Reply
Martin Lee says 10 years ago

As much as I am an advocate for eco friendly practices, I think vouchers is the way to go… 😉

Reply
    Karnataka says 8 years ago

    Agree Martin ,take it immediately as they holds clients money for 7 years or even longer.

    Reply
Jackson says 10 years ago

Lol. Vouchers is a good move.

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Jason says 10 years ago

The table arrangement is typical of a time-shared programme…heee

I would also take the FairPrice voucher and go….Thanks for sharing..

Reply
    Karnataka says 8 years ago

    Same shit in APC presentation in KL aswell…..same owners I heard with Jardin Smith Malaysia…sometimes can see the consultant in APC and suddenly with Jardin Smith.I saw the CEO in Jardin smith & suddenly he will be in APC presentation…the bold headed guy.

    Reply
      Rich Ong says 8 years ago

      Good Afternoon,

      Is this the same Jardine Smith as in Singapore? My friend tried to get me to go with them a few years ago. They are on the MAS alert list now. Glad I missed that one. Didn’t know they was in KL too.

      Reply
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