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Australian Wine Index

Australian Wine Index review: boiler room wine investment scam 416

K
Author of the review
9:29 pm EDT
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It is not difficult to question the integrity of the company simply by googling "Australian Wine Index Scam" amidst a growing list of high profile fraud cases happening in Singapore such as Assets Wine Management(AWM), Universal Asset Group (UAG), which has left thousands of investors stranded. Australian Wine Index executed a very clever investment scam usually comprising of three stages. Stage one involves targetting the greed. This is done through enticing unwitting buyer into committing large sum of money into buying wines, promising exaggerated yield and guaranteed returns in 3 years time. Unknown to buyers, these wine were sold at way above market price. The company will then prey on the investor's impatience to wait 3 years for maturity by scamming them the second time. This involves tricking the buyer into buying more wines usually with claims that these wines takes less than a year to sell as compared to the earlier ones. The tactic has successfully created thousands of small investors holding on to tiny portfolios of 1 or 2 wines with no way of exit which is naturally so, given that the wines were bought way above market. Final phase of the "Triple Whammy" involves fear. The fear of losing an opportunity to exit. The shanghai auction completes the hat-trick in scamming investors a third time into parting with their money for fear of not be given a chance to enter for the auction.

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

416 comments
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TBWScam
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:07 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My post doesn't appear at all. Maybe I wrote too much.

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TBWScam
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:11 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

if you have been following this entire saga, this is part 2 of my story.
2 people have called me in the past 2 days. 1, a telemarketer who asked me if I received my taka voucher as promised. I said yes.
Today, another caller called me. Sounded foreigner, so I would assume they would be one of those brokers they were talking about.
She asked, Mr C, will you be coming down today for your appointment? Which I told her, I already went on Monday. And then she hung up. This lady sounded like my broker who explained wine investment to me. Mexican lady called Rose. Of course, I have no way of verifying. 98/100 investors, 2 days later she is still looking for her 2 investors. Really?

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WINEGU
MY
Jul 09, 2014 9:11 am EDT

buy and sell good wine. this is what i do.

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owenzq
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:13 am EDT

Well the more you WINEGU is trying to deny and mislead just show how dubious TBW is...I entitled to share my fair and just opinion for the benefit of would be investors out here to make the right judgement call! I can see the can of worms being let out as the days go by and victims coming forward to share their experience! KEY takeaway peeps, Do you want to deal with such an organisation? If everything is so good, why are there so many negative feedback? ALL that glitter is not GOLD, beneath the glittering front lies the real worms...Do not be mislead by short term gains and blinded by greed over unrealistc promises!

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7years victim
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:19 am EDT

Can any person out there make a post to share how has WINEGU helped you to resolve your problem?

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7years victim
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:23 am EDT

TBWScam you probably have to try a few tries to get you post up. There may be some weird technical issues that is preventing a successful post. There are a few of us (myself, owenzq, AWI Exposed!) facing the same problem. It obviously cannot be so many people's laptop/PC having issues all at the same time.

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WINEGU
MY
Jul 09, 2014 9:27 am EDT

google search wine vs. gold and watch the short Bloomberg video.

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7years victim
SG
Jul 09, 2014 9:35 am EDT

TBWScam you have to try a few time to repost then it will be there. ownezq, AWI Exposed! and myself encounter the same problem.

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kic883
HK
Jul 09, 2014 10:27 pm EDT

I got a call from EBS Holding early this week, a guy call and say EBS holding would like to acquire my wine and he wants me to sign a NDA. 2 days later I got an email with 2 attachment, a 6 pages long NDA and a proposal offer of acquisition, EBS offer my original +30% premium. There are few things make me feel very suspicious.
1) From the email signature, it has the URL of EBS Holding www.EBSholding.com, inside their homepage you will found 'EBS Holding was formed in 1993 with the ...' . However, I found this domain was created in June 2014 (via whois ), which means this 'financial service' company doesn't have a website in last decade.

2) A very big biography with lots of BS: I have capture a screen shot, it is the biography attached at the very end of the email from EBS. This biography trying to convince you how trust worthy is this company, but I think it's way too much. I don't recall that I have seen such a big email signature in a normal email.

3) A six page NDA, I haven't finish reading the whole NDA, and I don't think I should spent much time on it. I feel like this guy eager to have me signing the NDA for some reason.

Although I am not in SG, I will report to SG police soon when I arrive there, please let me know what should I prepare to take legal action. Thanks, my email kic883@yahoo.com.hk

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kic883
HK
Jul 09, 2014 10:43 pm EDT

NDA from EBS holding
I have uploaded the NDA to a public dropbox folder,
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13397267/NDA%20from%20EBSHolding.pdf
appreciate for any comments

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SPLee
SG
Jul 10, 2014 6:43 am EDT

Was anybody here approached by ITRA and asked to attend a consultation session with your spouse? Anyone attended the session?

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7years victim
SG
Jul 10, 2014 7:13 am EDT

SPLee, don't go. I was approached by them too and when I show them a few URL links (via email) that wrote badly about them, they did not reply my email but kept calling me. I think they are trying to convince me via call but do not want to put anything in writing. I refused to answer their multiple calls and they have since stop pestering me. Try asking them why there are so many bad press (see below).
http://insidethegate.com/2012/04/case-warns-about-international-timeshare-refund-action-fraud/
http://timeshareelimination.blogspot.sg/2013/06/international-timeshare-refund-action.html
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/travel-accommodation-89/must-read-time-share-scam-awareness-dont-next-victim-940968-84.html
http://mindtimeshare.me/2012/04/17/singapore-consumer-watchdog-case-warns-against-asian-fair-trade-advisory-group-aftag-itra/
http://sharetimemagazine.com/section-blog/43-consumer-news/446-consumer-alert-asian-fair-trade-advisory-group

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7years victim
SG
Jul 10, 2014 7:14 am EDT

SPLee, I was approached by them too but my story was I cannot bring anyone along. I did not attend in the end.

Y
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7years victim
SG
Jul 10, 2014 7:15 am EDT

SPLee, you can try ask them about the following bad press.

http://insidethegate.com/2012/04/case-warns-about-international-timeshare-refund-action-fraud/
http://timeshareelimination.blogspot.sg/2013/06/international-timeshare-refund-action.html
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/travel-accommodation-89/must-read-time-share-scam-awareness-dont-next-victim-940968-84.html
http://mindtimeshare.me/2012/04/17/singapore-consumer-watchdog-case-warns-against-asian-fair-trade-advisory-group-aftag-itra/
http://sharetimemagazine.com/section-blog/43-consumer-news/446-consumer-alert-asian-fair-trade-advisory-group

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 10, 2014 9:52 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Don't believe in ITRA, is another SCAM. How do they know our details to the exact amount we have invested, AWI mus have provided them those info. There's a CASE warning against them, just check out this link, http://insidethegate.com/2012/04/case-warns-about-international-timeshare-refund-action-fraud/.

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 11, 2014 6:14 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Don't bother, is another scam. Somehow they know our investment value so suspect AWI disclosed our info to them. There's a CASE warning on them, pls see link below.

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7years victim
SG
Jul 11, 2014 9:32 am EDT

The caller that called told me one of the "insider" who used to be from AWI got fed up with the way AWI manages the client and quit. Apparently that "insider" is of a senior managerial position and he got information of lots of victims. The caller can even tell me how much my portfolio was. Not sure if this should come as a shock or not.

Y
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7years victim
SG
Jul 11, 2014 9:35 am EDT

Apparently, I was told a senior management person realised AWI wrongdoing and quit. Because he was of senior position, he brought along with him a lot of clients information and so they were able to tell how much money I have invested in my portfolio.

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swat13477
singapore, SG
Jul 11, 2014 10:18 pm EDT

Anybody actually went to CWT to verify their wine are indeed stored there? According to the agreement, they are supposed to send us the online inventory tracking login, but I did not receive any.
Anybody receive theirs?

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 12, 2014 2:19 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You will have to contact them, they won't contact you. They are too busy scamming new investor into buying wine. Once you contacted them, then they will sell you a new trading contract. All the wine are moved from Menlo to CWT in a block, unless you ask for the online access, then they will pass the lock no. to CWT for tagging.

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 12, 2014 2:43 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You need to contact them, they won't contact you. They are too busy scamming new investors. The wines have been moved from Menlo to CWT in block, only when AWI provide them with your lock no, will they be able to tag the wines to your account.

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 12, 2014 2:48 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

ITRA scam warning, http://insidethegate.com/2012/04/case-warns-about-international-timeshare-refund-action-fraud/.

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TBWsucks
SG
Jul 17, 2014 12:49 am EDT

I'm the victim of this, I would like to exit, anyone here exit successfully?

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 17, 2014 1:02 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

TBWsucks, no one exited w/o losts, so be prepared. Hv u inspected ur wine at CWT? How long hv u invested?

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swat13477
singapore, SG
Jul 17, 2014 3:10 am EDT

How to inspect the wine in CWT? Do we call them directly or have to go through AWI?

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 17, 2014 6:12 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

U hv to call Jelin fr AW to get ur lock no. & fix an appt to visit CWT.

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May19
SG
Jul 18, 2014 12:10 pm EDT

Just attend their 1 hr session... after session give me a bottled of wine. Suppose to have $100 takashimaya vouchers but they say run out of vouchers and ask me to leave name and contact and they promised within 2 weeks will courier the vouchers to me.

Anyway they call me 1 day before seminar and say will give me the company name and website via url... On the day of talk, they call me and I say I haven receive email.. they say will resent but I sill dun get the email.

The reason I can think so is they dun want people to research/google their company out... so that people going to the talk will be take their bait and part money in their investment.

Will I still receive the $100 taka vouchers.?

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Xam Xam
MY
Jul 26, 2014 1:03 am EDT

Beware of this scam, !

Now under THE BOTTLED WEALTH CORP, I think it comes into other southeast asia market, Indonesia, Malaysia.

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Xam Xam
MY
Jul 26, 2014 1:06 am EDT

It has tried to scam into KualaLumpur and Jakarta market.
The name is THE BOTTLED WEALTH CORP
Beware of this!

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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 26, 2014 2:50 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Complain on TBW.

A
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AWI Exposed!
SG
Jul 28, 2014 3:30 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Just take a look on the new complaints board posting on TBW.

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chazzerau
SG
Jul 28, 2014 1:37 pm EDT

All positive comments on this blog are the work of AWI - nobody I know that has been scammed by this group has reported AWI selling their wines. Their Auctions never happened - I said your auction? Sure show me one catalog! They could not produce anything. CASE + Class action suit with everyone here to share the legal fees to shut them down and sieze their assets for misrepresentation - this is the only way to get them. They are called AWI and their name cards say Wine Broker or trader not Wine Salesperson which is what they are. They just talk over the phone and will never put anything down in writing...someone needs to pretend to be a buyer with a recording device to record their ### for the courts. These are parasites with posh English accents to con you of your money using a legal loophole. They drink wine all day and night, hold events with more alcohol to ease their sales. Another way to do this as clients is to go to everyone of their events and drink them dry and tell everyone there not to invest as they are scammers. Unfortunately in Singapore it seems very difficult to get more than 1 person to unite against these bottom feeders with cufflinks...they are the lowest of their breed just like when the English came to steal everything...

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chazzerau
SG
Jul 28, 2014 1:59 pm EDT

Their new address:
Singapore Office:
One Raffles Quay, #09-05 North Tower,
Singapore 048583.

Tel: +[protected]
Fax: +[protected]
Email: info@awi.com.sg

Malaysia Office:
Exquisite Bottle Index Sdn. Bhd
(1060843-T)
Suite 18 & 19, 27th Floor
Quill 7, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +[protected]
Fax: +[protected]
Email: info@xbi.com.my

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chazzerau
SG
Jul 28, 2014 2:08 pm EDT

I hope they con lots of people in Malaysia and Jakarta because their system of justice is much swifter than Singapore's - all they need to do is con one Mafia member and they will taste the fruit of their labour. Because of this I wish them much success in Indonesia - people will cut off their tongues for $5, 000 or less...it will happen - watch. I don't wish ill of anyone, just stating statistical probabilities. I hope these charlatans didn't bring their families along - I noticed most of these parasites are single or have family overseas.

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swat13477
singapore, SG
Jul 29, 2014 1:45 am EDT

and they need 2~3 weeks to get the CWIT login ans password. Seriously, 2~3 weeks? that's way too long.
Anybody experience the same thing?

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angry-bird
SG
Jul 29, 2014 3:00 am EDT

Yes chazzerau, that seem to be the only way. I saw on the forum that a group of unhappy clients had made police report base on the following and more than 20 of them had done it, with more doing it. I have made my report too! We should do our part to warn others about them.

Report content include:
1. Moving of our wines without authorization.
2. Breach of contract without selling our wine at 5% commission but require us to invest more or need to buy membership fee for new trading contract.
3. Misrepresentation of wine value and duration on drinkable period of the wine.

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maleficent
ID
Jul 31, 2014 2:16 am EDT

@swat13477, I just received the userID and password after 2 weeks since I signed and trapped with their business scam..

Its been 1 month and they said within 3 months my wine will be sold, is it possible?

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maleficent
ID
Jul 31, 2014 4:44 am EDT

@swat13477, I just received the userID and password after 2 weeks.. I think this is too long and very suspicious..

Its been 1 month after I signed and trapped in their business scam, they said the wine will be sold within 3 months.. is it possible?

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ChuaYS
MY
Aug 03, 2014 10:31 pm EDT

Anybody can help? i am also a victim on this SCAM.

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cc1181
US
Aug 04, 2014 1:26 am EDT

i purchase my first batch of wines in 2009 and as most people, was suckered into purchasing 2 more batches after that. Felt something was not right by 2010 when they not only did not make any effort whatsoever to sell my wines but kept on bugging me to buy more in order to sell. WTF? After buying 3 batches they are telling me that they cannot be sold unless i complete the collection by year/species etc? Shouldn't that be told at the first stage? After many request of asking them to offload my wines they offered to buy it back at a small loss to me in 2012. I said ok, getting back any amount from those scammers is better than nothing...but then nothing...total silence. no news whatsoever and contacting them have been futile. Few days ago I received a call from this Aussie sounding guy claiming to represent a group of investors initiating a suit and takeover of the company asking me to provide details of my investments and sign some forms. Sceptical of course as he sounded like those scammers of AWI. New approach to scam? Asked him how he got my details etc. He said from ISO. ISO?International Standardization Organisation? Seriously?Anybody encountered this new development? Anybody knows how i can offload those stupid wines even at a lost? Recovering back some money is better than none...I'm from Malaysia so i really don't know whats going on over there in Singapore's AWI office of my wines..

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