Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
VFC - 30th Anniversary Banquet
The celebration was very memorable. Getting to celebrate with close friends, even serving different ones, and not forgetting meeting some old friends! It was great! Wish there were more but I think if we had to wait for another 30 years, I old liao lor! Ha ha!
Anyways, here are some of the photos (will update more later):
Anyways, here are some of the photos (will update more later):
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Targeted as a victim of the HK lucky draw scam
It all started with a friendly phone call asking me to take part in a simple survey. Then a few days later, I was told that I won the 3rd prize of S$150,000 cash!! But WAIT! Don't be too happy for me, cos all this is a SCAM!
This is how it happened:
First, I attended to their survey. Then in order to submit the survey, they needed my full name, which sounded reasonable. To be honest, I can't even remember what company she mentioned she was from. Anyway, to thank me for my participation, she gave me a lucky draw number.
A few days later,I was invited to an event hosted in JB. Obviously I wouldn't go cos I was still working then. Strangely, on the day of the event, I was told that I was one of their lucky draw winners, and was asked to come to JB to collect my prize. I thought it might be some small items, so I was not willing to travel all the way down. She said someone will contact me again on how to have my prize delivered to me. OK, so far, that sounded genuine and convincing.
The next few days were fun, cos she sounded really genuine in wanting to give me my prize. First, she introduced herself as Cai Ya Juan, working in Hong Kong but her mainland Chinese accent gave her away. Her phone number was withheld so I don't know where she was calling from. The background seems a bit noisy, as if the company was very crowded. She also gave me her company phone number: 0218 52 3078 3278. She was very friendly,a lot of chit chatting, like your old friend, it puts you off your guard. She even gave me her company website to check out their company - hkxina.com. It looked really impressive.
Now comes the question mark part. In order to claim my money, I had to pay up an insurance or guarantee of some sort, to their selected board to ensure that I will pay Hong Kong government their levy. The cost: $5800. After which, within one hour, I will 'see' my prize money in the bank!
Ok, now the fun part.
1. I checked out their website using 'whois registrar' and found out that it was registered on 7th Oct 2007! Now if the company is more than 20 years old, and being so established, why set up website only one month ago?
2. Although they even gave me a login number and password to see my name on the winning list, why wasn't there a newspaper announcement? I asked her and she said it'll not be published in the HK newspaper cos the draw was in Malaysia. Then she couldn't answer me why Malaysia and Singapore papers were not published too.
3. When I was asked to pay the $5800, I asked for a black and white proof that I will receive the money in one hour's time. She went back to the beginning and go through with me all over the procedure, which sounded very fluent - too fluent like as if she had been handling a lot of lucky draws. Wow, the company so big hor? Always got lucky draws :P Anyways, a big, established company can't even provide me a faxed form of black and white!
4. Whenever along the conversation when I raise some doubt, there'll always be another caller calling in and I can somehow 'hear' their conversation and the topic is always what I've just asked! And the lady will always repeat what the other party says, as if to let me know what they were talking about!
5. The moment she sensed that I'm not going to fall for their trick, her tone literally changed! Ha ha, but I still pretended to not know about the trick and played along with her. I doubt she'll call back.
Now, if you received any calls like that, DON'T BELIEVE EVERY WORD THE OTHER PARTY SAYS!!!! Check out the internet, MANY MANY fell for this scam. A teacher paid $61,000 and still has not seen her cash prize yet! Browse through the internet and you can find some interesting ways others are dealing with this scam.
But if you did give away your particulars, here are some steps you need to do:
1. File a police report, to safe guard yourself. Give the police all the details so that they can investigate.
2. If you did disclose your bank account, call your bank to lock your account. You can still use it personally but they will not entertain anyone (including yourself)over the phone or internet. You'll need to close the bank account and open a new one.
Just be careful my friends!
This is how it happened:
First, I attended to their survey. Then in order to submit the survey, they needed my full name, which sounded reasonable. To be honest, I can't even remember what company she mentioned she was from. Anyway, to thank me for my participation, she gave me a lucky draw number.
A few days later,I was invited to an event hosted in JB. Obviously I wouldn't go cos I was still working then. Strangely, on the day of the event, I was told that I was one of their lucky draw winners, and was asked to come to JB to collect my prize. I thought it might be some small items, so I was not willing to travel all the way down. She said someone will contact me again on how to have my prize delivered to me. OK, so far, that sounded genuine and convincing.
The next few days were fun, cos she sounded really genuine in wanting to give me my prize. First, she introduced herself as Cai Ya Juan, working in Hong Kong but her mainland Chinese accent gave her away. Her phone number was withheld so I don't know where she was calling from. The background seems a bit noisy, as if the company was very crowded. She also gave me her company phone number: 0218 52 3078 3278. She was very friendly,a lot of chit chatting, like your old friend, it puts you off your guard. She even gave me her company website to check out their company - hkxina.com. It looked really impressive.
Now comes the question mark part. In order to claim my money, I had to pay up an insurance or guarantee of some sort, to their selected board to ensure that I will pay Hong Kong government their levy. The cost: $5800. After which, within one hour, I will 'see' my prize money in the bank!
Ok, now the fun part.
1. I checked out their website using 'whois registrar' and found out that it was registered on 7th Oct 2007! Now if the company is more than 20 years old, and being so established, why set up website only one month ago?
2. Although they even gave me a login number and password to see my name on the winning list, why wasn't there a newspaper announcement? I asked her and she said it'll not be published in the HK newspaper cos the draw was in Malaysia. Then she couldn't answer me why Malaysia and Singapore papers were not published too.
3. When I was asked to pay the $5800, I asked for a black and white proof that I will receive the money in one hour's time. She went back to the beginning and go through with me all over the procedure, which sounded very fluent - too fluent like as if she had been handling a lot of lucky draws. Wow, the company so big hor? Always got lucky draws :P Anyways, a big, established company can't even provide me a faxed form of black and white!
4. Whenever along the conversation when I raise some doubt, there'll always be another caller calling in and I can somehow 'hear' their conversation and the topic is always what I've just asked! And the lady will always repeat what the other party says, as if to let me know what they were talking about!
5. The moment she sensed that I'm not going to fall for their trick, her tone literally changed! Ha ha, but I still pretended to not know about the trick and played along with her. I doubt she'll call back.
Now, if you received any calls like that, DON'T BELIEVE EVERY WORD THE OTHER PARTY SAYS!!!! Check out the internet, MANY MANY fell for this scam. A teacher paid $61,000 and still has not seen her cash prize yet! Browse through the internet and you can find some interesting ways others are dealing with this scam.
But if you did give away your particulars, here are some steps you need to do:
1. File a police report, to safe guard yourself. Give the police all the details so that they can investigate.
2. If you did disclose your bank account, call your bank to lock your account. You can still use it personally but they will not entertain anyone (including yourself)over the phone or internet. You'll need to close the bank account and open a new one.
Just be careful my friends!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Our Refuge And Strength
READ: Isaiah 31
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. —Psalm 20:7
In August 2004, Hurricane Charley brought fierce destruction to areas of Florida. During the storm, 25-year-old Danny Williams went outside to seek protection in one of his favorite places, a shed under the protective branches of a banyan tree. But the tree fell on the shed and killed Williams. Sometimes, the places we look to for security can be the most dangerous.
The prophet Isaiah warned Judah’s King Hezekiah of this truth. Hezekiah was a good king, but he repeated the sin of his father Ahaz by seeking security in an alliance with an alien power (2 Kings 16:7; Isa. 36:6). Instead, he should have been encouraging his people to trust in the Lord.
By seeking help from Egypt, Hezekiah showed that he had failed to learn from history. Egypt had been anything but an ally to Israel. Hezekiah had also forgotten Scripture. Amassing horses for cavalry units was against the divine constitution for the king (Deut. 17:16).
Ultimately, Hezekiah did seek help from the Lord (Isa. 37:1-6,14-20). And God miraculously annihilated the invading Assyrians (vv.36-38).
Judah made the mistake of valuing the strength of Egypt over the living God. May our trust always be in the name of the Lord our God (Ps. 20:7).
—Marvin Williams
Trust in God and you will know
He can vanquish any foe;
Simply trust Him day by day,
He will be your strength and stay. —D. De Haan
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. —Psalm 20:7
In August 2004, Hurricane Charley brought fierce destruction to areas of Florida. During the storm, 25-year-old Danny Williams went outside to seek protection in one of his favorite places, a shed under the protective branches of a banyan tree. But the tree fell on the shed and killed Williams. Sometimes, the places we look to for security can be the most dangerous.
The prophet Isaiah warned Judah’s King Hezekiah of this truth. Hezekiah was a good king, but he repeated the sin of his father Ahaz by seeking security in an alliance with an alien power (2 Kings 16:7; Isa. 36:6). Instead, he should have been encouraging his people to trust in the Lord.
By seeking help from Egypt, Hezekiah showed that he had failed to learn from history. Egypt had been anything but an ally to Israel. Hezekiah had also forgotten Scripture. Amassing horses for cavalry units was against the divine constitution for the king (Deut. 17:16).
Ultimately, Hezekiah did seek help from the Lord (Isa. 37:1-6,14-20). And God miraculously annihilated the invading Assyrians (vv.36-38).
Judah made the mistake of valuing the strength of Egypt over the living God. May our trust always be in the name of the Lord our God (Ps. 20:7).
—Marvin Williams
Trust in God and you will know
He can vanquish any foe;
Simply trust Him day by day,
He will be your strength and stay. —D. De Haan
Amazing Voice for a Little Girl
What an amazing voice from a 6 years old girl - Connie Talbot from Britain's Got Talent! Enjoy :)
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