SunShine Empire
So what I have learned over the years when comes to investment/business opportunity is this - never be impatient, always get the facts correct. Never invest in anything that your don’t understand and never to succumb to hard-sales tactics. There is no such thing as “this opportunity only happen once in a life time”. I assure you, there are always opportunity presented to us, whether in the form of a scam or otherwise. Greed and fear has always been men’s greatest weakness and one of the main root causes for failure. Everyday, there are people around the globe coming up with fantastic ideas to make good money It can either be a genuine and innovative idea or just a scam for you. You don’t believe? Here I’ve got another opportunity good enough for you to tender your resignation letter after you signed up.
In mid-2007, a few of my colleagues were engrossed in an investment firm known as “Sunshine Empire”. According to them, the company offers investment scheme that comes in different classes – Gold partners, Silver partners and Bronze partners. Comparatively, the Gold partners requires higher investment amount. The returns from the investment is very high. One of them told me that in less than a year, investors will get back their initial capital, and presumably there are still perks after that. Subsequently, I also heard that by sponsoring friends into the investment scheme, you will be rewarded too. I went into Sunshine Empire’s website and they claim that are investing a lucrative broadband business in Taiwan. The latest update is that they are into property investment.
I begin to search through the internet to find more information about this investment scheme. As usual, there are always people claiming that this is a scam, while others do their best to convince you that they had received a few thousands dollars per month from this investment. These investors will “screen-shot” their cheques together with pictures of seminars attended by huge crowd. And there are also heated arguments in forums discussing this scheme.
There is a report in a Chinese website and I had extracted it below for reading pleasure.
“阳光大帝基金”骗局揭秘
发布者：三阳 时间：2007-08-24 09:18
“瑞士共同基金”等黑基金刚刚覆灭，一种名为“阳光大帝基金”最近通过网上又卖得红火。该基金号称投资6万，每月可分红7000元，并在福州设了联络处。据称，福州有几百个投资者买了该基金。收益这么高，这基金靠啥来维持运作？投资者的资金又如何得到保障？连日来，记者做了一番调查。
抽回投资遭到拒绝
福州高先生日前反映，最近“阳光大帝基金”卖得很火，感觉像“瑞士共同基金”变种。他的几个朋友都花了6万买了这只基金，最近也收到了每月7000元的分红。有朋友要求抽回投资金额，但遭到拒绝。
几经周折，记者昨日与“阳光大帝基金”位于广东佛山的中国区负责人于先生取得联系。于先生在电话里自称其公司总部在新加坡，是高科技公司，在全球都有投资，主要做无线宽频、房地产等项目。但记者上网查询“新加坡阳光大帝公司”，却查不到其在新加坡的任何信息。于先生表示，“阳光大帝基金”分三个投资级别，最高级别是投资6万，每月可获得7000元的收益。第二个级别是投资3万。最小的基金投资额是4173元，按照一套复杂的计算方法，两年后按月分红的总额可达2万多。于先生还称，公司运作模式与传销类似，但绝非传销。公司鼓励每个投资者介绍熟人参与投资，并将重奖其中的优秀者。每发展一名自己的下线投资者购买公司6万元基金，可获得2000元奖励。
于先生还透露了在福州联络处联络人陈先生的联系方式，并称福州投资者已经有很多，正准备组织他们到香港分公司去参观。记者昨日找到“阳光大帝基金”福州联络处的陈先生。他说，“阳光大帝基金”在全球有5万多会员，仅仅在福州就有几百人。此后，他又吹了一通基金如何如何赚钱，极力鼓动记者去买。当记者问及为何拒绝投资者收回资金时，陈先生并未回答。另据了解，“阳光大帝基金”网站服务器设在香港…
========
Is the above report trustworthy? I don’t know. Like I said, in the internet, we just don’t know who is really telling the truth! This scheme is currently spreading like wild fire in my office and apparently, a few colleagues had resigned when they collected a few thousands per month from this investment. I was told that one of them invested close to a hundred thousand of his retirement savings. This colleague is at retirement age. Putting your retirement savings to someone with such credential, in my opinion, you are walking on a big plot of land mines. Some forums even refer SunShine Empire as a “Ponzi scheme”. From Wikipedia:
A Ponzi scheme usually offers abnormally high short-term returns in order to entice new investors. The high returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises (and pays) require an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep the scheme going. The system is doomed to collapse because there are little or no underlying earnings from the money received by the promoter. However, the scheme is often interrupted by legal authorities before it collapses, because a Ponzi scheme is suspected and/or because the promoter is selling unregistered securities. As more and more investors become involved, the likelihood of the scheme coming to the attention of authorities will continue to increase.
The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique after emigrating from Italy to the United States in 1903. Ponzi was not the first to invent such a scheme, but his operation took in such a large amount of money that it was the first to become known throughout the United States. Today's schemes are often considerably more sophisticated than Ponzi's, although the underlying formula is quite similar and the principle behind every Ponzi scheme is to exploit lapses in judgment arising from an investor's lack of information.
- end -
So, you see, there are indeed many people who wanted to help you and me to be rich. Now there are also “Paid Survey” and “Diamond Cash Club”. I am not sure what they are or how they work but I am rather tired of doing more of such research. Some schemes require huge investment layout, others just fifty bucks. And we always have unlimited supply of scammers around the world. Whenever someone tried a new scheme, he will help the creator to be a millionaire. You may say that “it’s only $50 mah, who knows it is real and I can get rich”. But that is exactly the kind of behaviour a scammer is hoping for. Remember that if every China people give you a dollar, you are instantly a billionaire. Still I am always skeptical on those get rich ideas that do not require hard work and/or commitment. It is not that I had a negative mindset. I always do my homework, when I am convinced beyond reasonable, I will try. Well at least I tried the MLM before.
Conclusion
In conclusion, everyone wants to be rich, to be a millionaire, and to achieve financial freedom. That is the ultimate objective of earning more money. I had tried and will keep trying, and to do it intelligently and ethically. I believe very soon we will know if SunShine Empire is in genuine business. A good investment/business based on sound fundamental will survive. But those schemes that promised quick and easy money usually won’t stay long, especially those where the earnings largely comes from new recruits. I don’t want to end up joining a scheme that only serves to help others to be millionaires. No doubt we should always keep an open and positive mind, learn to acquire more knowledge. Again, knowledge equals to power. After years of reading materials on Warren Buffett’s teaching, I had acquired basic knowledge in investment that manages risk as well. I always tell my friends that for all kinds of investments, we must first have answers on “risk factors” before we talk about “rate of returns”. If the first element cannot be ascertained, then we should put our money in the bank. The investment products or asset class may be different, but the principal never change. The fundamental questions that I always ask are:
- How does the investment/business generates income?
- What is the income source? Selling product/services or membership?
- Does that income source make economic sense? Is there a fundamental demand?
- Is that income source reliable and sustainable?
- Do I understand the investment/business? Can I see it or feel it personally? I don't want powerpoint slides or video clip or word of mouth.
- Does the company have code of ethic and professionalism?
- Does the business has a sound track record?
- Is the account audited, by whom and can I study the financial report?
When a very attractive investment/business opportunity presented to me, my first response, and you may not like it, is “I will consider”. I will take some time to conduct due diligence until I am fully satisfied. Hard sales tactics will never work on me. And when I am satisfied, I will go for it - no retreat, no surrender.
So what I have learned over the years when comes to investment/business opportunity is this - never be impatient, always get the facts correct. Never invest in anything that your don’t understand and never to succumb to hard-sales tactics. There is no such thing as “this opportunity only happen once in a life time”. I assure you, there are always opportunity presented to us, whether in the form of a scam or otherwise. Greed and fear has always been men’s greatest weakness and one of the main root causes for failure. Everyday, there are people around the globe coming up with fantastic ideas to make good money It can either be a genuine and innovative idea or just a scam for you. You don’t believe? Here I’ve got another opportunity good enough for you to tender your resignation letter after you signed up.
In mid-2007, a few of my colleagues were engrossed in an investment firm known as “Sunshine Empire”. According to them, the company offers investment scheme that comes in different classes – Gold partners, Silver partners and Bronze partners. Comparatively, the Gold partners requires higher investment amount. The returns from the investment is very high. One of them told me that in less than a year, investors will get back their initial capital, and presumably there are still perks after that. Subsequently, I also heard that by sponsoring friends into the investment scheme, you will be rewarded too. I went into Sunshine Empire’s website and they claim that are investing a lucrative broadband business in Taiwan. The latest update is that they are into property investment.
I begin to search through the internet to find more information about this investment scheme. As usual, there are always people claiming that this is a scam, while others do their best to convince you that they had received a few thousands dollars per month from this investment. These investors will “screen-shot” their cheques together with pictures of seminars attended by huge crowd. And there are also heated arguments in forums discussing this scheme.
There is a report in a Chinese website and I had extracted it below for reading pleasure.
“阳光大帝基金”骗局揭秘
发布者：三阳 时间：2007-08-24 09:18
“瑞士共同基金”等黑基金刚刚覆灭，一种名为“阳光大帝基金”最近通过网上又卖得红火。该基金号称投资6万，每月可分红7000元，并在福州设了联络处。据称，福州有几百个投资者买了该基金。收益这么高，这基金靠啥来维持运作？投资者的资金又如何得到保障？连日来，记者做了一番调查。
抽回投资遭到拒绝
福州高先生日前反映，最近“阳光大帝基金”卖得很火，感觉像“瑞士共同基金”变种。他的几个朋友都花了6万买了这只基金，最近也收到了每月7000元的分红。有朋友要求抽回投资金额，但遭到拒绝。
几经周折，记者昨日与“阳光大帝基金”位于广东佛山的中国区负责人于先生取得联系。于先生在电话里自称其公司总部在新加坡，是高科技公司，在全球都有投资，主要做无线宽频、房地产等项目。但记者上网查询“新加坡阳光大帝公司”，却查不到其在新加坡的任何信息。于先生表示，“阳光大帝基金”分三个投资级别，最高级别是投资6万，每月可获得7000元的收益。第二个级别是投资3万。最小的基金投资额是4173元，按照一套复杂的计算方法，两年后按月分红的总额可达2万多。于先生还称，公司运作模式与传销类似，但绝非传销。公司鼓励每个投资者介绍熟人参与投资，并将重奖其中的优秀者。每发展一名自己的下线投资者购买公司6万元基金，可获得2000元奖励。
于先生还透露了在福州联络处联络人陈先生的联系方式，并称福州投资者已经有很多，正准备组织他们到香港分公司去参观。记者昨日找到“阳光大帝基金”福州联络处的陈先生。他说，“阳光大帝基金”在全球有5万多会员，仅仅在福州就有几百人。此后，他又吹了一通基金如何如何赚钱，极力鼓动记者去买。当记者问及为何拒绝投资者收回资金时，陈先生并未回答。另据了解，“阳光大帝基金”网站服务器设在香港…
========
Is the above report trustworthy? I don’t know. Like I said, in the internet, we just don’t know who is really telling the truth! This scheme is currently spreading like wild fire in my office and apparently, a few colleagues had resigned when they collected a few thousands per month from this investment. I was told that one of them invested close to a hundred thousand of his retirement savings. This colleague is at retirement age. Putting your retirement savings to someone with such credential, in my opinion, you are walking on a big plot of land mines. Some forums even refer SunShine Empire as a “Ponzi scheme”. From Wikipedia:
A Ponzi scheme usually offers abnormally high short-term returns in order to entice new investors. The high returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises (and pays) require an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep the scheme going. The system is doomed to collapse because there are little or no underlying earnings from the money received by the promoter. However, the scheme is often interrupted by legal authorities before it collapses, because a Ponzi scheme is suspected and/or because the promoter is selling unregistered securities. As more and more investors become involved, the likelihood of the scheme coming to the attention of authorities will continue to increase.
The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique after emigrating from Italy to the United States in 1903. Ponzi was not the first to invent such a scheme, but his operation took in such a large amount of money that it was the first to become known throughout the United States. Today's schemes are often considerably more sophisticated than Ponzi's, although the underlying formula is quite similar and the principle behind every Ponzi scheme is to exploit lapses in judgment arising from an investor's lack of information.
- end -
So, you see, there are indeed many people who wanted to help you and me to be rich. Now there are also “Paid Survey” and “Diamond Cash Club”. I am not sure what they are or how they work but I am rather tired of doing more of such research. Some schemes require huge investment layout, others just fifty bucks. And we always have unlimited supply of scammers around the world. Whenever someone tried a new scheme, he will help the creator to be a millionaire. You may say that “it’s only $50 mah, who knows it is real and I can get rich”. But that is exactly the kind of behaviour a scammer is hoping for. Remember that if every China people give you a dollar, you are instantly a billionaire. Still I am always skeptical on those get rich ideas that do not require hard work and/or commitment. It is not that I had a negative mindset. I always do my homework, when I am convinced beyond reasonable, I will try. Well at least I tried the MLM before.
Conclusion
In conclusion, everyone wants to be rich, to be a millionaire, and to achieve financial freedom. That is the ultimate objective of earning more money. I had tried and will keep trying, and to do it intelligently and ethically. I believe very soon we will know if SunShine Empire is in genuine business. A good investment/business based on sound fundamental will survive. But those schemes that promised quick and easy money usually won’t stay long, especially those where the earnings largely comes from new recruits. I don’t want to end up joining a scheme that only serves to help others to be millionaires. No doubt we should always keep an open and positive mind, learn to acquire more knowledge. Again, knowledge equals to power. After years of reading materials on Warren Buffett’s teaching, I had acquired basic knowledge in investment that manages risk as well. I always tell my friends that for all kinds of investments, we must first have answers on “risk factors” before we talk about “rate of returns”. If the first element cannot be ascertained, then we should put our money in the bank. The investment products or asset class may be different, but the principal never change. The fundamental questions that I always ask are:
- How does the investment/business generates income?
- What is the income source? Selling product/services or membership?
- Does that income source make economic sense? Is there a fundamental demand?
- Is that income source reliable and sustainable?
- Do I understand the investment/business? Can I see it or feel it personally? I don't want powerpoint slides or video clip or word of mouth.
- Does the company have code of ethic and professionalism?
- Does the business has a sound track record?
- Is the account audited, by whom and can I study the financial report?
When a very attractive investment/business opportunity presented to me, my first response, and you may not like it, is “I will consider”. I will take some time to conduct due diligence until I am fully satisfied. Hard sales tactics will never work on me. And when I am satisfied, I will go for it - no retreat, no surrender.
