Business Networking Scam Hits Shanghai

This strays a bit from our usual Mingtiandi vein, but I just received a scam appeal to entrepreneurs that I thought might be worth warning folks about.

I received two emails inviting me to an “Exclusive business breakfast meeting by invitation only!” from something cheesily called the “XL Results Foundation.”

It seems this foundation is a bogus business networking scheme that bilks would-be entrepreneurs for membership money while providing them with non-existent training and networking opportunities. And I thought those dodgy financial consultants were bad! You can find out how the scam works from this posting on ripoffreport.com and this Australian report from Perth.

In the mail, the XL Foundation describes itself as, “the world’s leading entrepreneur and social enterprise network.” But offers no grounds for this assertion. These tricksters from Singapore further assert that their ringleader will, “explain how Businessmen and Entrepreneurs can take advantage of emerging Business Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region.” Evidently the secret to taking advantage of opportunities is tO cOmpletely Ignore all standards reGarding Capitalisation. and the grammar.

It seems this pyramid scam has already made the rounds in Singapore, Indonesia and Australia and is now hoping to take advantage of the overly optimistic crowding the streets of Shanghai.

If you get this same email as I did, just toss it in the bin and save your business cards for the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.

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