Group Buying Site 'CleverBuy' Closes, NBI Investigates

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MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has stepped in the internet scam case involving the coupon/voucher website Cleverbuy.com.

The NBI received several complaints from consumers who paid for travel packages, some up to hundreds of thousands of pesos, but did not get any confirmation from the company. NBI computer crimes unit chief Migdonio Congzon Jr said they are already looking for the whereabouts of the people behind the company who may be liable for estafa or swindling.

Congzon admitted there is no regulatory body that screens these group buying sites. He also advises consumers to be wary about super cheap deals because "if it's too good to be true, it must not be true at all." Congzon added those who were duped will not necessarily get their money back as soon as possible since the NBI will just investigate and cannot compel owners to pay up unless they have an out of court settlement with the complainants.

Last week, ABS-CBN was able to go to the office of Cleverbuy in Makati but it was already closed. ABS-CBN tried to contact the representative of the company, a certain Edgardo Garcia, but his cellphone and landline numbers are already not working.

video credit: youtube

Samoht Paine Ollidoret
Former CleverBuy Employee

• Guys we met Christian Bayer The real owner of cleverbuy, it seems He planning to run from this mess, I asked him what his plan with the company, sad to say he's denying that he is the OWNER of CLEVERBUY! we feel the same sentiments nakaka awa din po yung mga naiwang employees nila. MAG FILE na po kayo ng Syndicated Estafa sa DOJ or sa NBI, before its too late, habang andito pa yung mga owner , PM me naman if may meeting yung mga complainants we ar very much willing to become part of this. pwede nyo sila huntingin dito unit 2909 - mr. Garcia's unit, 2910 Temporary office of WEBIX, Cleverbuy's Mother Company Tower 3 Makati Excutive Tower, dela Rosa st. makati city
• dati po akong employee ng CLEVERBUY, 3 months ago na, naawa ako sa mga dati kong kasama na iniwan sa ere ng mga may ari, tapos kanina we received an info na nasa GREENBELT daw si Mr. Bayer , hinanap namin sya , nakita namin sa isang Cafe, so kinausap ko kung ano plano nya, I was shock when he denied na sya ang OWNER ng Cleverbuy

On Refunds
June 2 - Comments in CleverBuys Facebook Page

• The Tourister: Hi guys, sorry quick updates lang po ito, pauwi pa kasi ako ng Tuguegarao and I just got home from NBI. Unfortunately, to sum it all up, parang malabo na makapag-refund pa tayo. May hope pero don't keep it high, for those who wants cleverbuy to pay for what they did whether monetary or not, then ya'll have to decide if you want to come with us and submit your affidavits. We signed a complaint letter as a group but we still have to submit each one's affidavit where you state your own story then have it notarize then submit it anytime next week at the anti-fraud division, room 503. Look for Atty. Minnie Retanal or Ms. Evelyn. Please keep in touch, mas madaming complaints mas maganda. Pero bawal po umatras once ma-file na yung kaso as per Atty. Retanal's request, kasi they don't want to waste time on people who's aim is to get their money lang, kasi wala daw assurance yun, ang ilalaban na lang talaga dito is makasuhan si Cleverbuy. Kaya weigh nyo na rin muna ang situation, no pressure.
• Jen Laron We had an informal conference yesterday at NBI Office, dumating naman ni Mr. Ed Garcia, madaming ini explain pero bottomline mukhang mahihirapan talaga tayo na mabalik ang pera natin. May dumating din na merchant partner nila at sinisingil cla dahil d daw sila nagbabayad. Kaya if you have extra time sa June 8, 2pm please visit NBI Office. Instead of promissory notes mas maganda daw na demand letter yung ipa sign natin kay Garcia.

Filing Complaints
As of June 6 - ThePromoBlogger Comments

• Yna: According to that news, ung mga hndi pa nakakapag-complain, you can call NBI Anti-fraud Division at 523-8231 to 38 locals 3491 and 3456 or NBI Computer Crime Division at 523-8231-38 locals 3454 and 3455. The more complainants the better. Mas i-pu-pursue nila ung case kung madaming humahabol dun sa Cleverbuy.
• Yna: I called NBI today, I was instructed to file for an Affidavit of Complaint, attach the proof of payment and voucher. Tinanong ko kung panu un kung ung mga foreigner ung may-ari, i said baka makaalis ng bansa, ang sabi nila, as per documents daw na nakuha nila, Filipino ang may-ari ng company. For refunds, walang kasiguraduhan, kc kung wala na daw pera ung company, wala ng ibabalik. Pero kung mapapatunayan na meron pa clang mga ari-arian na pwedeng i turn into cash, dapat malaman na para mabayaran tayong lahat..
• Hi, I called NBI just a while ago. To those who haven’t filed any complaints yet, you can prepare it until Friday morning. Then, they recommended that we personally hand over the complaints and also fill up a complaint sheet at NBI Taft. Para isahan nalang punta, you may want to submit your affidavit and demand letter on June 8, Friday @ 2pm, NBI Taft. Attend na rin tayo ng hearing. See you all there. And hope Mr Christian Bayer or whoever owns Cleverbuy, will not run from their responsibilities. I have with me the screenshot of their official statement but not from their FB Page. To those who had their checks bounced, please provide documentation from bank. It will help us make a stronger case against them.

 

source & image credit: http://everythinginbudget.blogspot.com

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