Saturday 13 July 2013

Alternative Investment - MAS Investor Alert List

Last month I have a post discussing the alternative investments that I came across in the market place.  I have done further research and found that some of the companies selling these investments are on Monetary Authority Singapore (MAS) Investor Alert List.

The following companies are on that MAS Investor Alert List:

1. Solomon Alliance Management Pte Ltd
  - Hong Kong Land Asset Acquisition
  - German Government Listed Building Projects.

2. WealSol Pte Ltd
 - Brazil Opportunity investment

3.  Infinity Treasures Pte Ltd
 - Detroit Exit Strategy
 - Canada Crude oil

The MAS Investor Alert List

From time to time, MAS receives information on unregulated persons who have been mistaken as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  Consumers should exercise care when dealing with these persons or with other persons acting on their behalf.  Overseas consumers who receive solicitations by persons who claim to have an operation in Singapore should also exercise care and check if they are in fact dealing with persons who are regulated by MAS.

The MAS Investor Alert List is a list of unregulated persons who, based on information received by MAS, may have been wrongly perceived as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly.
 


Link to MAS Investor Alert List

Companies that are in the above list meant that they are not regulated by MAS and the products that they carry are non-regulated products.

Again, the jury is still out on whether these are ponzi schemes, and no risk no gain, but Caveat Emptor !

Related Post:
Alternative Investments ???

54 comments:

  1. Hi, a friend recently recommend the Detroit Exit Strategy by Infinity Treasures to me. I have raised concern that they are in MAS's IAL but she advised that investors are protected under Escrow and Trustee. However, how safe are these to protect, particularly Singapore investors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Detroit Exit Strategy is not a sound proposal based on proper research. It is simply a strategy to refurbish houses and sell them for profit, many people do this without using a fancy name for their otherwise non-descript strategy.

      The reason why this is a TERRIBLE investment is because housing in Detroit is dirt cheap with little chance of recovery. While you may think that it will recover eventually, this is not true and you may just be throwing away money.

      Put it this way, in Singapore houses keep getting more and more expensive because the population won't stop growing like popcorn. In Detroit people are running away from the city because there are no jobs there like water flowing out of a leaky bucket. Based on this, how could property prices in Detroit possibly go back up? They've been dropping for decades for a reason.

      Delete
    2. Yes. This indeed does not look like a sound investment after considering the situation at the city now.

      Farmer.

      Delete
    3. What does protected under escrow actually mean?

      Delete
    4. Protected under escrow means nothing. There is also a type of scam called bogus escrow scam (try google).

      Farmer.

      Delete
    5. ESCROW ACCOUNT must have Monthly ESCROW STATEMENT REPORTED AND AUDITED BY TRUSTEE.
      MANAGING AGENT MUST VERIFY EVERY MONTHLY AUDIT REPORT TOO

      Delete
    6. MANAGING AGENTS
      LEE AND SMITH
      are TWO
      BANGKOKERS
      BANG COCKERS
      not managing the processes

      Delete
    7. Lee and Smith. I think you mean Lee Smith and Steven Wright from Project Kudos

      Delete
    8. on the detroit issue the poo has hit the fan for right buy have been sued by "kudos" bankrupting them [ron mackie just took on to much]
      the worst companies for detroit homes are ran by Casey Harwood
      usa/detroit advantage new orbit see that name head for the hills
      cost me thousands pure scan

      Delete
  2. Hi, being in MAS's IAL is a red flag already. There is also a type of scam called bogus escrow scam (try google). Let's assume worst case scenario, if Infin.Treasures no more in existence, are you to fly over to US yourself to claim from Escrow and Trustee?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More Absent Systems (MAS)
      is highly incompetent and too good to be true.

      WHY all the banks rigging SIBOR
      are not Canned and Jailed

      WHY LEHMAN BROTHERS are not prosecuted

      WHAT is the Alert List for !?
      Just CANED AND JAILED ALL THE PRESIDENTS, VPs, AVPs, Directors of all companies in the MAS Alert List.

      Then everything becomes CLEAR AND KNOWN,
      no need to Alert Anybody At All.

      Delete
    2. Malaysia Authority has no Alert List

      BUT a Prosecuted List

      In 2012, WALTON MALAYSIA in K.L.
      was RAIDED AND FINED
      AND SHUT DOWN.

      WHY MAS did NOT ALERT SINGAPOREANS
      on WALTON ?!

      Delete
    3. Edgeworth Property
      Gold Label
      Gold Guarantee
      Lehman Brothers

      NOBODY IS JAILED OR FINED.

      ALERTING has no effect at all.

      Delete
  3. Hi, thanks for enlighting. This is a good question which I could ask them during their "free" lunch seminar next Sat(27/7). I was told that the US developer of the "Exit Strategy" will be coming to Singapore to make presentation and explain how this thing works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The US developer is a Kiwi. his name is Ron Mackie, I think he is in his 70's. There is very little on the WWW to bear testament to his glittering career in Africa and Asia. The fact I cannot find anything at all = BIG RED FLAG. Do your own research, let me know your findings,

      Delete
    2. Ron Mackie
      is a Stubborn Old Fool
      Running from Kiwi to UK to Detroit
      Like a CLOWN

      Delete
    3. Do you know Mr Mackie, have you met him?

      Delete
  4. Enjoy the "free" lunch. Careful with your investment decision.

    Farmer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ministry Of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
      bought thousands boxes of Pineapple Tarts
      and hundreds bottles of Wines as GIFTS ?

      WHY ?

      MFA is NOT a Commercial Business Entity ?

      WHY spend TAXPAYERS' MONEY on ENTERTAINMENT !

      Delete
  5. Any feedback on your "free" lunch meeting with the US developer on 27/7 sir?

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did not attend the free lunch seminar. But I heard that they have changed the city of "Exit Strategy" from Detroit to Florida.

      Farmer.

      Delete
    2. In this millennium,
      FREE LUNCHES and FREE DINNERS
      SEMINARS are EVERYWHERE !

      United Nations Summit
      G20 World Conference
      G13 Forum
      G8 Review
      Asia Pacific Meet
      Asia Regional Workshop
      ASEAN Interlude
      Bi-Lateral Visit

      FREE GIFTS too.

      Delete
  6. Hi Farmer,

    I was also recently approached with regards to The Exit Strategy. Coulf you share any updates or thoughts ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for reading my blog. I do not know your risk appetite, but Exit Strategy is too high a risk for me. Be careful with your investment.

      Farmer.

      Delete
    2. The Exit Strategy is set to rehouse 40,000 families. Where are these families, how many have they rehoused so far. What does rehousing actually mean??? All I would say is be vey careful. The Exit Strategy has a few holes which need plugging. Maybe someone at Infinity Treasures would like to answer?

      Delete
    3. The Exit Strategy is APPROVED by UK Pension Fund Board.
      TRUSTEE Global Custodial Services is Licensed and Regulated by UK Financial Conduct Authority [FCA].

      US FEDERAL RESERVE is World Number 1 Financial Authority.
      UK Financial Conduct Authority [FCA] is World Number 2 Financial Authority.
      MAS ranks which Position in the World ?

      Delete
    4. MAS Licensed the banks to take Savings and Time Deposits BUT ONLY need to pay back UP TO S$50,000
      is telling the banks impliedly that banks can RISK all the MONEY they take in.

      WHAT DEGREE and WHICH LEVEL of INTEGRITY and ASSURANCE are there in the Banks ?

      Malaysian Banks' Deposit and Insurance Liability is ONLY S$50,000.
      Malaysian Banks' Deposit and Insurance Liability is VERY MUCH HIGHER at RM250,000

      W H Y ? !

      MORE ASSURANCE and INTEGRITY
      when Malaysian Banks are in MALAYSIA ?

      MALAYSIAN BANKING INDUSTRY is Less Risky ??

      Delete
    5. Malaysian Banks' Deposit and Insurance Liability in SINGAPORE is ONLY S$50,000.

      MALAYSIAN BANKS' Deposit and Insurance Liability in MALAYSIA is Very Much Higher at RM250,000.

      Delete
  7. Infinity Treasures could not offer a good assurance as their own integrity is not proven.
    Farmer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pan Electric
      Chartered Semiconductors
      CITIBANK GROUP
      America Insurance Group [AIG]
      ENRON
      ARTHUR ANDERSEN
      LEHMAN BROTHERS
      General Motor
      UK BARING BANK

      ALL Proven with Highest INTEGRITY
      did NOT provide any ASSURANCE at All

      Even Government's Backing and Regulation is equal to ZERO ASSURANCE.

      WHICH GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES LIVELIHOOD TO ITS CITIZENS ?
      NONE !
      EVERY GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES ONLY THEIR COMPENSATION AND EXUBERANCE !?
      THAT'S ALL !

      DON'T BE SILLY FOOLS TO BELIEVE ANY GOVERNMENT'S INTEGRITY UNLESS THEY DON'T TAKE SALARY FROM PEOPLE'S TAXES !

      Delete
  8. They might not be able to but as the sales and Marketing agent for Asia, they will have figures for families rehoused and bucket loads of testimonials. The fact I cannot find any testimonials for this project worries me greatly. People should be shouting about this great cause because more investment will mean more opportunity for more families. Maybe I am missing something here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CHECK OUT
      the Crude Oil Valuation Report
      done without Site Visit

      Delete
  9. SGX Selling Blue Chips
    at S$100 per lot
    is one way to Scoop the tiny cash fishes DRY.

    WHAT KIND of Blue Chipss that the Big Fish Do Not Want are ?

    So DESPERATE

    ReplyDelete
  10. The ONLY TWO MEN ON EARTH
    who has PERSONAL INTEGRITY and ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE
    are
    WARREN BUFFETT
    BILL GATES
    who DONATE PERSONAL WEALTH in BILLIONS !

    ReplyDelete
  11. PRESIDENTS
    PRIME MINISTERS
    PREMIERES
    MINISTERS
    CEOs

    are ALL THE SAME AS SALARIED EMPLOYEES.

    The lower their salaries the higher their INTEGRITY !

    HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES are MERCENARIES ?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anyone considering investing in Detroit real estate should have their head examined. The city is totally dead, bankrupt and nobody wants to live there. There are also dozens of US hedge funds which have bought tens of thousands of houses as well as countless thousands of US private investors who are in this business, it is extremely competitive. There is nothing unique about this business except it is being sold to people in Singapore. I would bet there are huge fees being taken by the promoters. Run, don't walk, away from this investment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct - the fees are very high making the return unachievable. Lots of people seem to be on the Detroit gravy train, it is the investor who will pay in the end. Oh, and the end has already happened, Investor returns seem to have dried up already. Just like the crude oil,

      Delete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is absolutely impossible to make the kinds of returns quoted under the Exit Strategy.
    The fact that the exit strategy has "SOLD OUT" after quoting it can run for 5 years should raise alarm bells,
    I also have to question the home ownership that is quoted, it takes a few minutes on google to discover that these homes are not being sold to Detroit home owners, they are being purchased by hedge funds & more overseas investors at a greatly reduced price.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wrong, anonymous, the homes are not being purchased at all. Michigan Land Registry will tell you that.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi James. That makes it even more worrying then. You have to wonder what the investment money is being used for.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Using money to purchase homes does not mean these same homes will sell on at a later date. If the Exit Strategy is to find its own Exit then there needs to be some serious movement in housing stock.

    ReplyDelete
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    We Invested $4000 and Received $3400 daily
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    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi James, the exit strategy is in the RED now, from last year Nov 2013.
    Developer cannot fulfil their obligations and have dragged paying investors for as long as 7 months already :(

    ReplyDelete
  20. I heard through a friend in Singapore that this investment was in serious trouble.
    65M++ in the red now, thats in Singapore alone,
    Interestingly though, I also heard that Project Kudos are still promoting this sham of an investment. Is this possible considering the obvious failings. I am not sure what they are hoping to achieve, apart from more pain for investors. Seriously, these guys should be shut down.

    ReplyDelete
  21. They can promote it to other countries that know about this scam. Make the money and cover the holes.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi I have invested with this company over 4 years ago (Right Buy Properties, CEO: Ron Mackie) & have been told they have suspended their dealings with the Detroit investment! I am looking to speak to ANYONE from Right Buy Properties or any other investor who like me appears to have been left with no one to advise me & no money coming in!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi
      in same boat as you
      they have been stopped from trading buy an investment company kudus [they have no way back!!]
      contact
      SBZ [bentinilaw@gmail.com]
      you will find that your 2012/2013 tax bills are unpaid
      and god knows what else
      i advise you to act quickly

      Delete
  23. Hi anonymous - message me your name and property address. Can I assume you own property in Detroit?
    How can Right Buy Properties just suspend their obligations - there is too much money at stake here.
    I heard a rumour that Project Kudos and Right Buy Properties were in the process of suing each other. Lets hope they are not using investor funds or commissions to do this. Anyone from Right Buy Properties care to comment, anyone from Project Kudos care to comment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. contact babsg@rightbuyproperties.biz
      she ran it
      ask her one question can rightbuy comeback

      Delete
  24. James, anyway we could have a chat? what is your email we can exchange contact?
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi James/Anonymous
    I am also a potentially scammed Right Buy investor. I would like to communicate with yourselves and any other investors of Right Buy/Ron Mackie

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was a contractor for right buy. The least I can do is do a quick drive by to see if the properties even exist.

      Delete
  26. I am a current investor in Jardin Smith International Pte Ltd (JSI) based in Singapore. Besides land banking, JSI also secures investors for agricultural products.

    I was one of the earliest investor in their teak products (sold by APC and now fronted by APS as the marketing agent in Singapore).

    Since May 2014, I have been following up with JSI wrt my teak investments. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unanswered questions to date and this eventually lead to APS offering a verbal package settlement when APS took over the case after the person in charge at JSI left during the last quarter of 2014. More unfortunately, APS/JSI/APC are now refusing to fulfill some of the terms of the verbal settlement terms. I am currently exploring legal options at my end.

    For now, would I like to share my experience and encourage all teak investors to start asking questions including but not limited to the followings:-

    a) APC has advised that APC has never sell Gliricida as an ongoing revenue as per the marketing materials presented to investors by JSI. APC only give returns on Gliricidia up to 5 - 6 years depending on the teak growth rate.

    b) For investors with contract terms requiring APC to submit annual reports wrt to the growth status of your teak trees, please note that APC has not been submitting them for my case and it becomes a problem when I get a shock from the growth numbers specific to my trees.

    c) For investors who were given free 7 years old teaks (25 for every 250 teaks purchased), please check and ensure that the teak trees are growing normally. (I was initially told my 25 11 year old free teak trees are worth only $1000 and later on quoted another number $11,000 when I challenged them). Anyway, the quotes are far from the the projected price and the measurement of the teak trees as at the 7th year onwards was not given for subsequent verification to establish the health of the trees at that point in time .... We were told they are healthy trees).

    d) For those who have received yearly reports from APC, you might want to verify the latest numbers for your teak trees as compared to the average numbers provided by the APC report. There is a huge gap for my case which cannot be reconciled.

    The above are the key issues I faced. Will leave it to you guys to find out more for yourself.

    ReplyDelete