Car dealer cheats 40 customers

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/customers-vent-offer-advice-online

A chat group on WhatsApp formed by the angry customers of Volks Auto has grown to about 90 members.

And the emotional chatter has intensified, with members lashing out against the dealership, offering legal advice to each other and sharing

their experiences with the parallel importer.

They have been doing this on car forums online and in the group chat after the showroom closed on Saturday.

"I really want to skin this b******," said one member, referring to the director of Volks Auto, Mr Alvin Loo.

"All these are our hard-earned money that they cheated," said another.

There were also comments from buyers about how Volks Auto managed to get away with $1.6 million worth of deposits.

Many said that after they forked out the downpayments, the director told them their cars were being inspected by the Land Transport

Authority (LTA), and that the matter was out of his hands.

One text message shared by a buyer showed a response from a sales staff from the company that said: "The LTA side upset my boss a

lot over the waiting period for car inspection too."

Said one buyer in the group chat: "They pushed everything onto LTA. I called LTA, but the officers requested for the engine and chassis

number."

These details were not given to customers of Volks Auto.

When one customer asked for the information, Mr Loo apparently told him: "Documents I have, but cannot show you now because it's

parallel import and sensitive."

With the director now missing, there was no way the customers could trace the cars they ordered.

One buyer, who wanted to be known only as David, said: "If a deposit is placed, the company should have followed up on it."

He told TNP: "In the past, the deposit required was small, compared to today. New laws mean that before delivery, we need to pay 50 per

cent of the car's (price).

"That means that a lot more money is in the hands of the parallel importers."

David paid $20,700 for a Honda Vezel. He believes he has already lost the entire sum.

"This guy just kept collecting deposits... Why are there no regulations to control this?

"I have likely lost all my deposit, but I hope something good can come out of this," he added.

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

TODAY reports: A total of 98 victims say they have been scammed of nearly S$3.2 million from the now-shuttered car dealership.

SINGAPORE:

More victims have come forward to seek refunds for the deposits they paid to the now-shuttered car dealership Volks Auto.

As of 4.30pm on Thursday (Dec 18), there were 98 known victims, who collectively parted with nearly S$3.2 million in deposits for the cars they

purchased from the parallel car importer, said Mr K K Lo, 53, one of the affected customers.

Mr Lo, an IT manager, is coordinating an effort to consolidate the victims’ police reports and sales agreements, which the group plans to submit to the authorities soon. Volks Auto’s director, Alvin Loo, remains uncontactable.

Mr Lo said he expects more victims to step forward.

On Wednesday, more than 60 affected customers met at a McDonald’s outlet in Kallang to bring together their documents.

“Everyone hopes to get back a refund, but looking at the situation, I don’t think it’s good,” Mr Lo said. “How to get back the refund? It all very much

depends on the police to help us. As victims, we have limited power (and) we can’t do much.”

nufala · Dec 19, 2014

Get the Loo fucker and loot and hoot him many times.

Leongsam · Dec 19, 2014

Mr Lo, an IT manager, is coordinating an effort to consolidate the victims’ police reports and sales agreements, which the group plans to submit to the authorities soon. Volks Auto’s director, Alvin Loo, remains uncontactable.

Another bunch of idiots who don't have the brains to figure out that if an offer is too good to be true, it's obviously a scam.

If sinkie executives and managers who can afford fancy cars are that dumb, just imagine how much more stupid the lower level sinkies are.

No wonder the PAP is desperate to import foreign talent. It is Singapore's only hope for salvation.

Oakenfold · Dec 19, 2014

dumb meets dumberer

nufala · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
Another bunch of idiots who don't have the brains to figure out that if an offer is too good to be true, it's obviously a scam.

If sinkie executives and managers who can afford fancy cars are that dumb, just imagine how much more stupid the lower level sinkies are.

No wonder the PAP is desperate to import foreign talent. It is Singapore's only hope for salvation.

Not really, these people may be educated but many are not streetsmart enough to smell a scam. They needed to be more exposed when they were younger.

Leongsam · Dec 19, 2014

nufala said:
Not really, these people may be educated but many are not streetsmart enough to smell a scam. They needed to be more exposed when they were younger.

In today's world, being streetsmart is more important than being well educated. This shows that Singaporeans are lacking in the skills required to survive in the rough and tumble world of the 21st century.

dlwtsla · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
In today's world, being streetsmart is more important than being well educated. This shows that Singaporeans are lacking in the skills required to survive in the rough and tumble world of the 21st century.

BTW where is forummer streetsmart73? Or another online persona? :eek:

bushtucker · Dec 19, 2014

sinkies are like that. when things go wrong and they get cheated, they don't know how to settle it themselves. must complain to police, case, MP, govt, and rely on them to settle their issues.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/more-victims-come-forward-volks-auto-case

“How to get back the refund? It all very much depends on the police to help us. As victims, we have limited power (and) we can’t do much,” he added.

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
In today's world, being streetsmart is more important than being well educated. This shows that Singaporeans are lacking in the skills required to survive in the rough and tumble world of the 21st century.

Boss , may i add being well connected and who one knows work particularly well too

esp in SG . i am sure Volks Auto conman is not Officially named Alvin

( Alvin may be just his nick name or business name ) . Maybe the name

Alvin doesnt even exist on his Nric ID . Yet they just flow along without even

doing a proper CSI on this real name . Shameful !!! :confused:

Leongsam · Dec 19, 2014

bushtucker said:
“How to get back the refund? It all very much depends on the police to help us. As victims, we have limited power (and) we can’t do much,” he added.

The bunch of clowns are going to spend hours "watsapping" each other while the culprit is long gone. Fat lot of good that's going to do.

laksaboy · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
The bunch of clowns are going to spend hours "watsapping" each other while the culprit is long gone. Fat lot of good that's going to do.

It's therapeutic.

swtzcbo · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
The bunch of clowns are going to spend hours "watsapping" each other while the culprit is long gone. Fat lot of good that's going to do.

Why it's not "Telegraming" or "LINEing" Just because WhatsApp is popular? :biggrin:

sochi2014 · Dec 19, 2014

anyone here kena conned by them?

More victims come forward in Volks Auto case
Channel NewsAsia Singapore NewsToday, 01:16
TODAY reports: A total of 98 victims say they have been scammed of nearly S$3.2 million from the now-shuttered car dealership.

melzp · Dec 19, 2014

Re: anyone here kena conned by them?

quite similar to Frankel Motors? Womder what happened to FM?

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

Re: anyone here kena conned by them?

melzp said:
quite similar to Frankel Motors? Womder what happened to FM?

sir, when did FM took place ?

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

Leongsam said:
The bunch of clowns are going to spend hours "watsapping" each other while the culprit is long gone. Fat lot of good that's going to do.

Hi there,

Sorry to hear that.

I can imagine that the anti-VolksAuto Whatapps group is probably cautious in accepting anonymous mobile number into their group so as to prevent VolksAuto spies into the group.

As part of the verification process, it may help if you can
(1) scan the Volks Auto receipt from your family member,
(2) digitally remove personal data from the receipt, and
(3) post it here first.

Concurrently, at least one member from the anti-VolksAuto Whatsapp group may wish to register as a user in this forum so that the link-up is possible.

Putting more heads together would likely yield more constructive options against the sole director/shareholder of Volks Auto Pte. Ltd.

Named "Alvin Loo Mun Yu", NRIC no.: S7837923E, seeking justice for those affected.

http://dishonest.biz/forum/index.php/topic,2

Millennium · Dec 19, 2014

Why only whatsapp?

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

Re: anyone here kena conned by them?

melzp said:
quite similar to Frankel Motors? Womder what happened to FM?

Melzp ; just found something on FM , Frankel Leasing Pte Ltd, Frankel Motors and Frankel Group Pte Ltd. ...

http://www.sgevoclub.com/general-ca...tors-leasing-however-you-want-call-t8576.html

Happy new year folks!

I know this letter might dampen your holiday cheer but it's from Scott, a good
friend of mine who's just deeply distraught with his situation. He was cheated
of his hard earned savings IN SINGAPORE. Maybe this will reach someone who can
help him.

Pls read on

Fil

Dear Friends, Family and Fellow Singaporeans,

I have been cheated of my hard earned savings of almost $20,000 and it seems
that no one can help me out. It may not be a big sum of money to some of you
but, to me, this amount is more than my annual salary! I feel lost, hurt,
depressed, angry and absolutely helpless. I am hoping that by sharing my
experiences, we could prevent this from happening again. Or, at least, gain
some empathy from those who have had similar experiences.

I paid a total of $17,872.49 in cash to Frankel Leasing Pte Ltd to purchase a
car. Everything including the bank loan of $50,000 had been processed but I
never received the car as promised 6 weeks after the successful bidding of my
COE. On the 22nd of December, I decided to pursue this matter but little did I
know, was a the start of my legal nightmare with the police force, lawyers, car
salesmen and the Frankel Leasing Pte Ltd, Frankel Motors and Frankel Group Pte
Ltd.

My first police report was nothing more than a documentation that left my case
unclassified by the police even though I insisted that I had been cheated. The
case to me was straightforward and simple, I had paid a lot of money, was not
given the receipts as promised, and had no car delivered to me. I was simply
cheated! The officer recording my report (ABU ZAHID AB AZIZ from Queenstown
Police Post) suggested that this report could be for record purposes.... I
wonder what was needing to be recorded. Did I omit any facts that proved that I
was not cheated? What evidence would I need to show the police that I have
been cheated?

5 days later, on the 29th of Dec, I decided to confront the company at their
headquarters at Macpherson. I was shocked when I had arrived at the premises as
the name of the shop front had been changed from Frankel Leasing to Frankel
Group. I saw that the staff were the same and it appeared that the management
was the same too. The staff (John and Jason) barely noticed us but were keen to
tell us that they had a new boss and were now called Frankel Group. They
proceeded to tell us that our money had been embezzled by the owner of Frankel
Leasing and that Frankel Group would now be helping us register our car. If we
paid an extra 3k, they could "try" their very best register our car. I was also
warned that we had better be nice to them as this new company would be
"helping" us recover as much of our losses as possible. If we rocked the boat
too much, the boss could transfer the funds out of the country or distribute
the funds to others and declare bankruptcy. Then we would not be able to
recover anything at all.

Frankel Group, Frankel Leasing and Frankel Motors.... Don't they sound like
they are run by the same management? The staff wear uniforms with all three
logos and during their sales talk, they use these names interchangeably. In our
contract, for example, we were asked to write a cheque to Frankel Group, but
the sales staff told us to write to Frankel Leasing instead. (Which we did)

Sensing a rat, I decided to call the police at 11.30am. This was where I became
most embarrassed by the state of our police force in Singapore. I had dialled
999 and spoken to the operator apologetically. I said," I'm sorry but this is
not an emergency but I do need your help and this is the only number I know."
After I had given the address of my location and the scene of the "crime", the
operator told me that police officers would be on the way to assist in
investigations.

5 mins later, I received a call from bedok police post saying that they had
sent 2 policemen on their way. I thanked them and waited anxiously. They did
not turn up. I called back after half an hour and they replied that the police
are still on their way and cannot find the location. I was aghast because I
could have taken a cab from bedok and reached macphersn in 15 min! Finally
after exactly an hour, the police arrived. 2 men. Staff Seargent Ramli and a
Corporal. What happened next shocked and disgusted me till no end:

After I had explained my case to the policemen, Sergeant Ramli told me that ,
in these instances, it would be classified as a civil case and the police would
not be able to help. Can you believe it? I paid a company $17,872.49 for a car
and they would not give me any receipts nor deliver the car and the policemen
come to tell me that they cannot help me? He continued to tell me that I needed
a lawyer to pursue this case if I wanted to. I explained that they took my
money without giving me a receipt OR the car and it was just DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!
How can this be a civil case when they are cheating me right under the
policeman's nose?? Lawyer? I don't have any more money to hire a lawyer! The
car dealers have cheated all my money away!

I was desperate, I needed the help of the police, they cannot just leave like
this without investigating anything and tell me off in this manner. I called
bedok station and spoke to the Station inspector. I gave feedback that the
policemen were so late and could not render me any help when it was so obvious
that it was a cheating case! The car salesmen even told me that the owner
cheated us of the money. It was even admitted but yet the policemen told me it
was a "CIVIL CASE". Very civil indeed.

So, she (Bedok Station Inspector) proceeded to tell me this:

My 2 policemen went down to the address that you had given us but could not
find the place. The 2 policemen that are with you now are not from my station
they are from Tanglin Station. My 2 original policemen went down but realised
that the location was not within the jurisdiction of Bedok Station so they went
back to the station. (later, SSG Ramli explained that bedok station was in
charge of 1 side of the road while Tanglin station was in charge of a different
side of the road) So, Tanglin then sent 2 policemen from their side to help
you.

My response is: 2 policemen came from bedok to help me, realised after nearing
the destination, that they were not in charge of the area, therefore, they went
back to the station to report that it was not their problem. But, since they
were the police, they had the responsibility to call the station in charge of
the vicinity (Tanglin station) to send 2 more men. Perfect. What an amazing,
brilliant communication network that ensured that both sides of the Mac Pherson
road was adequately covered by 2 teams of policemen. We taxpayers are paying
raised salaries for civil servants to be this wonderfully efficient and
organised.

I could not comprehend how confident she (station inspector) was in giving me
the reason for the late policemen. It was almost as if I was MEANT to
understand the station's problems and that I should ACCEPT this human error:
that side of the road is just not under our jurisdiction...

I swallowed my shock and requested for her to speak to SSG Ramli so that he
could at least help me take a statement to document what had happened. Only
then, did SSG Ramli walk into the shop to speak to the car salesmen and
ourselves.

SSG proceeded to play a mediating role, asking questions and dishing advice but
none of our statements were taken down. I said that I have been cheated of my
money. I paid but no car was delivered and now they want even more money to
release my car. Sensing that I was not moving forward with the case. I settled
eventually for making the car dealer write a handwritten acknowledgement that
he had taken this sum of money from me. Even then, it was not a receipt from
the company. SSG left quite pleased and gave me a case card. On the card was
written under the offense classification: Police Assistance Required. Super.

After the policemen left, I stayed in the shop to wait for the "boss" to
appear. He never did as the salesmen promised. But after 5 hours waiting and in
silent protest, the scam came back again when I was at my most emotionally
exhuasted. I pleaded with them just to return my hard earned money or just give
me the car as promised. I even surrendered a little and offered that I will pay
the 3k outside of our sales agreement to get my car back. They went into the
office to discuss and this was what they offered me:

1)top up $7,900 to get your car. Confirm will get.

I said I can't afford it. I paid the amount stated in the sales agreement in
full and I was decieved that I would get the car. Now I had to pay $7900.00
more to get my car because this "new" company was helping me pay the other
half!

I offered 4k instead, I almost in tears by then. They went back to discuss and
came back and counter offered me:

top up 5K and you'll get your car when you get your car, you will not hold any
legal suit against Frankel Leasing Pte Ltd or Franke Group Pte Ltd.

They gave me a typed agreement to sign. The agreement had no letter head and
did not look official at all. I refused. By this time, I was completely
smashed. I continually asked myself these questions again and again. It caused
me so much distress I was very distraught.

Why wouldn't the police acknowledge that I had been cheated when it was so
obvious. Why did they suddenly change their name within a week from frankel
leasing to frankel group and were allowed to do that? Why is the law not
protecting us quick enough so that these fraudsters can be caught. Business
laws have got loopholes that make tricking consumers so easy. Just transfer
business to a new co with a similar sounding name then liquidate the
problematic old co. Why did they try to convince me that this new company
would be helping me but I cannot take legal action against the defaulting
company that cheated me. Why did I have to pay so much more and still be
indebted for the help that this "new" company is extending to me. Isn't this
entrapment, extortion, cheating and fraud? Why are the police telling me it's
a civil case and only needing " police assistance required".

I want law to be enforced so that innocent singaporeans are not tricked further
into scams like these. I want the lawmakers and law enforcers to wake up to my
plight. Why is my country not helping me when I need it most to protect what I
had worked so hard for.

I took that "new" agreement that required me to top up money immediatlely to
Queenstown Police station to report this case again. I called the officer in
charge, Hu Ziliang but he refered me to Chaih Siew Joo who was uncontactable. I
pleaded with the officer at the service counter (TAIB B MOHAMAT) to document
what had happened to me just but he replied at first that there was no need to.
I said I needed him to see that it was a case of cheating but when he
referenced the other police reports, he said that even if he put down a report,
he had to follow the original classification: police assistance required.

I said," well, then now that you have heard my story, reclassify it!"

I left the station with a new report and under the classification of case:
unclassified.

I went back a broken man. Disillusioned with my country, poor, angry and very
very broken.

Please help me, anyone, please. I'm wondering if there are others in the same
boat. If you have a similar experience, please contact me so that collectively
we can seek help together with a larger voice.

Please also forward my plea to as many people as you can so that they can be
wary of such scams in the future.

Thanks for reading.

Ben [email protected]

I called the Station Inspector at Bedok Police Post that having the 2 policemen
arrive at the scene after an hour is not acceptable

===============
end of mail

So wat do ya think?

CoffeeAhSoh · Dec 19, 2014

Re: anyone here kena conned by them?

Quote Originally Posted by melzp View Post

quite similar to Frankel Motors? Womder what happened to FM?

Multi-millionaire Alvin Loo Mun Yu , NRIC no.: S7837923E ,

could have honed his skills at Frankel Motor

Car dealer cheats 40 customers

Alfrescian

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High Order Twit / Low SES subject

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High Order Twit / Low SES subject

Alfrescian (Inf)

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