Indonesian Internet Bike Scam at Alibaba.Com

[Irish John]

It's embarrassing to have to admit but I've been taken to the cleaners by an Indonesian company advertising US cruiser bikes on Alibaba.com trade website. I agreed to import 3 Schwinn D7 cruisers and got taken for a lot of money - more when you include air freight. I thought I should warn other members that pretty well all the Indonesian entries offering bikes on that trade forum are scams and when they get your money they disappear and reappear as something else. The only common factor is that they are Indonesian.
My motivation for dealing with them was not so much greed at getting a bargain but resentment against the sole distributorships that bump the prices up 200-300% because their monopoly is protected by commercial law.
When you think about it American bike brand owners are very hard-nosed and predatory companies and they would go to great lengths to ensure that nobody gets around the system of sole distributorships that they have put in place. If you ask an approved supplier in another country to supply to you they won't do it if that country is on someone elses patch. This means that all those cheap Trreks, Specialized, Schwinn, Felt and other US brand names that are being offered from Indonesia don't even exist. It's a huge scam designed to get money out of you.
I've seen a posting on MBc referring to Alibaba.com but all I can say is if it's from one of the big Chinese factories it's probably OK but if it's coming out of Indonesia it definitely isn't. Close scrutiny of these sites will probably convince you but I wouldn't like to see anyone lose the amount I just lost. (USD1619.97) and the exchange rate was really bad when I lost it!!

 

[terrence]

Awww man I feel for you. Thanks for the warning. Our family has been a target of
Indonesia scammers trying to verify bank accts, paypal accts, even roofing deals to good
to be true. Is there anyone you can contact to shut them down on Alibaba.com trade website?

 

[Irish John]

Yes, Alibaba have de-activated two of the sites and their memberships but ALL the Indonesian bike sites are a scam if they are offering Trek, Cannondale, Felt, Schwinn, Specialized etc. Believe me they can't get them cos I've spent ages trying to myself.
I've lodged a Trade Dispute form with Alibaba, Notified the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission - ScamWatch and also the Indonesian equivalent KPPU. Also my bank are trying to trace the account I paid into in Indonesia but all that happens is the sites get listed on ScamWatch in Oz.
Our Federal Police aren't much use unless it's drugs or illegal refugees then they are quite good.
Indonesia is the World centre for corruption so I'm not expecting anything but I wanted my stupidity to serve as a cautionary tale to other members.
When it comes to some countries COD is the only method of payment and if they suggest anything else it's a good signal to reach for your gun or, even better, a small thermo-nuclear device!

 

[SimpleSimon]

I agree with regard to dealing with Indonesian sellers and C.O.D. only for payments. While not quite as bad as the Nigerians, the Indonesian internet scam artists are truly a pain. I wanted to purchase some ironwood out of Indonesia a few years ago, and the seller offered a very attractive price - a trifle too attractive, so I did some research, then offered a large order, COD at the freight forwarding firm I set up an account with in Indonesia.

The order was never delivered, the seller dropped out of sight.

 

[Accender]

Sorry for the loss Irish.
Thanks for the warning.
Islam rewards the man who is as shrewd as to fool another man.
Not to offend anyone, it is a fact.

A

 

[Large Filipino]

Cash On Delivery. This is GREAT advice.

 

[Pablo]

No way are we shipping without cash. I have 5 orders that are still waiting on payment. Interesting, in no particular order: Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, UK, Singapore

 

[MotorBicycleRacing]

No way are we shipping without cash. I have 5 orders that are still waiting on payment. Interesting, in no particular order: Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, UK, Singapore

Be carefull
There are all kinds of scams from overseas like
paying with a hacked PayPal account which will
later be reversed by PP

I insist on talking on the phone with all buyers using
PayPal or credit cards

Get some cheap long distance, it weeds the scammers out

 

[Pablo]

There is some protection for Paypal sellers, but I'm sure Paypal will try to wiggle out of it if something goes amuck.

Western Union works as well.

 

[MotorBicycleRacing]

Western Union is bullet proof!
Thats why its the scammers favorite payment processor

Expensive on the fees though for the buyer

Never buy anything with Western Union unless you know amd trust
the seller 100%