Sunshine Empire probe: Illegal investment company?
Singapore November 14th, 2007
Sunshine Empire is under investigation because the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) suspects that it is running an illegal investment scheme, as opposed to it being a multi-level marketing firm. Members of the company were supposed to buy and sell products online, from which they would be given a rebate. A particular member had apparently been getting back rebates of $1,440 since his initial investment of $12,000.
It was reported that members may withdraw from the programme anytime, which apparently was not known by some of their members. It is illegal to run an investment scheme in Singapore without seeking approval from the MAS.
Personally, I am quite wary of such schemes because a lot of my friends have fallen into it by the lure of quick money. Even in the proper investment plans there are today, it is not entirely risk free and people should be educated to make proper decisions before putting their money into investments or unorthodox get-rich schemes.
THE Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) said yesterday that it has commenced investigations into controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) firm Sunshine Empire.
It also said it may ask people who have put money into the firm’s schemes to help in the investigation.
According to a company spokesman, the man behind Sunshine’s operations, Mr James Phang, was at the CAD’s office yesterday. He could not be contacted by The Straits Times.
In a statement announcing the probe, the CAD said people who have placed money with Sunshine are advised to wait for further updates from the department on the case.
‘More information will be released in due course, and persons who have placed money with the company may be requested to come forward to assist the CAD in the investigation,’ it added.
Sunshine’s schemes have attracted about 20,000 people here since it was set up in July last year.
But in September, the MLM firm was placed on the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) investor alert list.
It attracted the authorities’ interest as its activities appear to be akin to that of a pure investment scheme, for which it is not licensed.
The firm invites people to become ‘merchants’ of online goods, ranging from health supplements to electronics goods.
But concerns centre on the fact that participants can potentially pocket big ‘rebates’ without ever buying or selling these goods.
For instance, businessman Raul Tham, 50, placed $12,000 in Sunshine’s gold plan in August.
Since September, he has been receiving monthly cash ‘rebates’ of $1,440.
The rebates are based on the participants’ cash outlay as well as Sunshine’s global turnover.
Last week, with all the disquiet surrounding Sunshine and with news that Mr Phang was linked to an abandoned Indonesian club project, an award for him was withdrawn.
Mr Phang had been due to receive an Outstanding & Innovative Global Entrepreneur award at yesterday’s Global Business Opportunities Forum, part of the international business networking event Global Entrepolis hosted by Singapore.
Yesterday, the Sunshine spokesman said that ‘business will carry on as usual’, and added that the company had ‘nothing to hide’.
In a statement, the company also said it had recently written to the CAD offering to clarify any misconceptions.
When asked if Sunshine would entertain refund requests, the spokesman said that this has been its policy all along.
He added that there have been no refund requests here so far, but said the Malaysian Sunshine office has received five refund requests, he said.
Most Sunshine participants that The Straits Times interviewed were unaware that they could get refunds.
Meanwhile, the consumer watchdog is advising those who have placed money with Sunshine to ask for refunds if they are worried about the CAD probe.
Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon also cautioned investors against putting cash into Sunshine.
He said they are better off putting money in regulated financial schemes, given the higher standards of compliance required by the MAS.
Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 14th November 2007
About
Apologise. The date should be 15 February 2009 Sunday
Again ——- again——————-SMS Hurry
All Victims . It is time We move together
against the Sunshine Empire and Emmax.
Think of it.
The full year of life and emotional suffering.
Join in and SMS as much as possible! Hurry!
Operation Anti Empire – First Dialogue Section
Held at 15 February 2009 2 pm Hong Lim Park
15 February 2009
It is Time Today, Confirmed!
Meet up together for Dialogue and Media .
Victims of All Sunshine-Empire and Emmax
Come Down and Join In.
At 15 February 2009 2 pm Hong Lim Park
Thank you to turn up at 15 February 2009 2 pm Hong Lim Park!
More than 179 victims of Sunshine Empire and Emmax has come to this First Dialogue Section.
It was tremendous to get the first respond team
to turn up.
Questions raised will be feedback soon to reporter to write.
We will get Television Media to report our action for next Section.
Once again , Just wait for the next Dialogue Section to be hold with more Media to report.
All concerner Victims, please join in for next meeting ,we want to hear from you .
Well, as this is being informed to other victims, I’m sure that next dialogue will be more, regards.
is it on the newspaper?
Hi Jan, I mean, those who read this blog, they should sms, email or inform those they know that had invested in this sunshine thing.
As Suggestions said, there will be a next session, so do browse this once in a while for any update/s.
Mediacorp News
Mr Ting from Mediacorp News will like to arrange
a Dialogue Section at Mediacorp Studio with 6
concern victims on TV.
All concern Victims want to raise up.
Call Mr Ting now
Mediacorp News
Hp 96992796 E-mail: shuklin@mediacorp.com.sg
Mediacorp News
Mr Ting from Mediacorp News will like to arrange
a Dialogue Section at Mediacorp Studio with 6
concern victims on TV.
All concern Victims want to raise up.
Call Mr Ting now
Mediacorp News
Hp 96992796 E-mail: KhengSiong@mediacorp.com.sg
Forward to above new e-mail address
i mean is it on the article regarding sunday at hong lim park?
No Sir, as last sunday’s meeting was in the afternoon (2PM). I’m not sure if the SPH reporter (Mr Ang Y T) was able to catch-up in the late afternoon as I and my friend left hong lim park after an hour.
I have called up Mediacorp Mr Ting, he want to arrange another Dialogue Section with 6 members/victims of SE or Emmax in Mediacorp Stutio on the evening 7.30 pm (1 Hour Section)
Victims want to voice up any questions ,enquires, contact Mr Ting ASAP
Hp 96992796 E-mail: KhengSiong@mediacorp.com.sg
Let the Whole Singapore/World, Goverment, CAD, Public, All SE and Emmax Members, Families, Relatives,Friends and Peoples who turn alway from you to know our cirumstance and feeling.
James Pang, Jakie Hoo, Neo Kuon Huay(JP’s wife ) & Yong Wai Hong , Management of Sunshine Empire, Management of Emmax, All upline of Sunshine Empire, All upline of Emmax, and also the new On-Line-Casino
Company ot Empire Group Alliances ,
Indepentant Merchants, Members of
1) Sunshine Empire
Em-Call
2) Emmax (Hong Kong)
3) NiuTrend Lifestyle (NTI)
4) Eazy Max
5) Dynasty Club
6) Empire Entertainment Dynasty (EED)
7) Empire Property Venture (EPV)
9) SEA Net International (Dubai)
10) Empire Group Alliance (EGA)
Tell me what will happen if James Pang and 3 others be life inprison.
Do you want to clarify your quiry?
Do you want them to being unrefund for our hard-earn monies?
We even will get help from Legal Advice for
Compensation to be suggest?
Be Concern and Join in The Dialogue Section Fast.
The Strength of More Victims is Power.
All ,
I have made phone to below offices .They all denied that their comapny don’t not have direct relationship with SCAMER James Phang .
They all claimed about old Sunshine Empire refund money ,they have totally no resposibility to pay back to all members .
1) Emmax (Hong Kong)
2) NiuTrend Lifestyle (NTI)
3) Empire Property Venture (EPV)
4) SEA Net International (Dubai)
All concern victims
I have creat a new e-mail address.
You can e-mail your contact and e-mail address to
cityhisop@live.com
Whoever want to join in for the right of all victims action, please drop me your e-mail and telephone contact
Hi all,
I think Emmax (Hong Kong ) also need to tell the press .
Basically ,all project at Emmax is the convert from Sunshine Empire .
Same project ,same comapny & same director .
Emmax management will tell public is different comapany but actually it is same company .
Again – use this new e-mail contact
All concern victims
I have creat a new e-mail address.
You can e-mail your contact and e-mail address to
cityhisop@live.com.sg
Join in for the right of all victims action, please drop me your e-mail and telephone contact
Singapore Merchant, you mean, emmax have really physical projects being done ? Or these projects are just show-offs ?
Hi Suggestion, what is the date scheduled for the MediaCorp session ?
Hi Supremo,the date has to be arrange by Mr Ting.
Most important is the 6 members who want to raise their words in Television Media publicily.
To Supremo ,
Projects like: Niu Lifestyle , Empire Property Venture and Emcom are all Sunshine Empire’s projects .
Whether is for show-offs or not ? I don’t know about that . I think most of the members also don’t know .
We only keep on listening to a lot , a lot of stories .Endless stories.We still don’t know what actually they are doing .
Company keep on changing of name ,changing of product ,changing of plan untill we all become blu blu .
Sunshine Empire/Emmax also keep on saying they going to return our money untill today (more than 12 months already) ,we still don’t receive even a single cents from them .Keep on bull shit us .
Our OEM & SEM point in Emmax still can not withdraw .Emmax insist not to refund our money .
How can they insist not to refund the money if they have breached the law.Anyway there will be a court hearing on the case and whatever money raised they have to give an account of it and whatever they have say or promised its members need to fulfill.
On April 2008 , James Phang mis-lead us by asking member to sign the resignation from Sunshine Empire and join Emmax then we will get back our full refund money within 3 to 6 month .
6 month from April will be October 2008 .no a single cent paid to us . Not even an explaination .No news at all .
James Phang had cheated all the member .
I believed most of SE member also facing the same problem
We all applied our ICC card on April 2008 and untill today ,it is already 10 months. We still don’t get our ICC card .( The ICC card is use for the withdraw of our OEM & SEM point in Emmax as James Phang promised).
Now Emmax(Hong Knog) totally ignore our re-fund money).
We email Emmax to ask about ICC card . Emmax use auto reply .No answer at all . Emmax(Hong Knog) ignored our question .
You all can try the below link to ask about ICC card status . Sure got no proper answer from them.
Emmax ICC Email: enquiries@icash-card.com
We called to Emmax(Hong Kong) to asked about our OEM & SEM point ,they saying that it is only some point ,not money . They also claimed that what ever statement James Phang gave or promised ,it has nothing to do with Emmax(Hong Kong).
Or Emmax will ask you to leave your phone contact then they will arrange their marketing people to call back to you . I have left my phone contact to Emmax for at least more than 8 times but they never call me back . Not even 1 call .
Can we together make a phone call Emmax(Hong Kong) and recorded down the conversation ? Used as court evident.
Emmax(Hong Kong) Tel: 00852-2199-7887 & 00852-2377-1777
Singapore Merchant, understand your concern and its all our concern.
In my case, our upline told us that he went to taiwan and had seen the actual physical broadband project, that is why we’re happy during that period and so I and my friends joined. Now, it seemed that, the project that they had shown to our upline is just a show-off, its not their project but other companies project, so its a blatant cheating.
Bottomline is, wait for the court proceeding and the monetary aspect will be the next topic.
I agree with Supremo and this is one aspect the court or the prosecution will have to seek an answer from them
since all of us who want to know what went wrong did not have a clear or definite answer even from our upline.
Whether it is a scam or not it is really for the court to find out.
We wish and hope that our refund, if ever there will be, be in FULL (I mean, deduct whatever we got), then it will be a FAIR deal. TIME will Tell…..
To all SE victims ,
Jamws Phang MUST refund our money . That is our money . He cheated & lied to us for so long . He have no intention to return the money at all .
Now he is trying to run away with our money .
Sunshine-Empire or Emmax, he is not a director, shareholder/partner of the above company.
Where ever they .They are all scammer.
Talk big on the stage :
1) 10 to 12 times the return .
2) Promised to refund all member’s money on Oct 2008 .
When really ask them the refund ,they ran to back stage hide like a dirty rat.
Afraid to come out .
To all victims of Sunshine Empire Old Merchant.
(Have not transfer to Hong Kong Emmax)
.
Take note of 05 March 2009 (Important Date)
From CAD Webpage:
http://www.cad.gov.sg/topNav/faq/Sunshine+Empire+Pte+Ltd.htm
I had paid money to Sunshine Empire. When will I recover the money?
The process of releasing monies recovered by CAD will only begin when the proceedings in the Subordinate Court are completed.
What is progress of the proceedings in the Subordinate Court?
The matter is fixed for Pre-trial Conference on 5 March 2009 in the Subordinate Court. Further updates on the proceedings will be posted on this website.
I have paid money to Sunshine Empire. Do I need to make a report?
There is no need to make a report to police at this point in time.
Take Note, Pray Hard and Believe It.
All Victims
To suggestion ,
What about thoese who was mis-lead by James Phang and had transfered the account to Emmax ?
We not sure what Singapore Government or CAD or Case can help? Maybe refer to Hong Kong government for aid.
The Best ask the Leaders in Charge of Emmax .
To suggestion ,
No use to ask leaders in charge of Emmax .
They and Emmax management refused to answer us .
They ignored our question about our OEM point & SEM point .
Must report this to Hong Kong goverment .
Everyone pls think back…..
A year before CAD investigate Sunshine Empire Singapore, do Sunshine Empire Singapore ever never pay for the withdrawal? The answer is NO.
Everyone in Sunshine Empire do earn a lot of money from doing sales or purely join as an member with the packages to getting the rebate. Agree?
NObody complain only until CAD freeze their bank account which is on NOV2008. So who cause this happen? Who failed Sunhine Empire to do payment to the members?
And it is only after a year then charged JP and other 3 persons. This is so called the efficiency!!
For those member who had make refund request, go and ask CAD… The money in bank are being hold by CAD… When will they going to release the fund and refund to members?? must ask CAD then will know…do not hestitate to call.. act fast!
sorry the bank aacount is being frozen on NOV2007
Tell us, sg member
Who is responsible for all this?
James Phang, Sam Mock, Jackie Hoo, our up-lines, the Management of Sunshine-Empire or Emmax?
If they have no big ambitious,
many victims whould not fall into their traps.
1 Bronz,Siver or Gold Prime Benefits
(often raise of 300 e-points from phase 1 to phase 5)
2 Special Car Fund Bonus
3 12000 e-points Reward
4 60000 e-points Loyalty Reward
5 Never change of S$1.6o exchange rate of 1 e-point.
– (which unexpected that change later)
6 Monthly Rebates Reward – E-wallet points
(Which Nobody sure it is not guarantee)
7 Emwealth – Emall point
(Suddenly Close or Stop)
8 Emcall- oversea call – (same as sudden disappear)
9 Empire Properties Project – (use GP to borrow
monies from Malaysian Bank to buy Properties)
10 Leadership Training Program
The worst ask to transfer to Hong Kong Emmax, not even a single cents refund and still ask to top up monies from this members from their
OEM and SEM points to change to Gold Max.
11 Later Niu Trend Lifestyle
12 Later Grand Elitia
13 Later Geomancy and Fengshui
Keep on changing and changing.
How many members from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
and many part of countries are suffering.
They have take out all their hard-earn saving from Banks, Insurance Companies, Credit Card or On Line Credit, borrow from Friends or even worst their Families Members/Relatives Monies to buy so many Gold Primes or Gold Max and this is not cheap.
They can’t get their monies to pay back and to live to maintance lifestyle so many months, they have been disappointed, sad and stress to live on, facing debtors, creditors, bankrupting by law, sue from Banks /Credit Debt and many friends or families turn alway from them.
If Sunshine or Emmax have not been operated, many life have not been suffer.
About Fengsui – Remember the Many Lions picture on the wall at Toa Payoh Office, I thinks they are waiting for many members to become it’s preys.
Most of us know, the most important person to be blame / responsible is I, myself; you, yourself; we, ourself.
If not for greed of all this, I, you, we never suffer much in life.
It is being regret that Building our Richness with Sunshine-Empire or Emmax since we join in.
The trust and faith we let our monies to them, become today what I am wrong, am suffering, am poor.
You really have to stop your dealings with those because they will dry you up until you have nothing to left with you. – to sg member
Before CAD freaazed Sunshine Empire , they have transfered all their money to Emmax(Hong Kong) .
Sunshine Empire is now empty shell .
We all should chase our money from Emmax (Hong Kong).
Well, I and others had not joined emmax in HK.
From CAD website :
Q What is progress of the proceedings in the Subordinate Court?
A The matter is fixed for Pre-trial Conference on 23 April 2009 at 10am in the Subordinate Court. Further updates on the proceedings will be posted on this website.
Urgent !!!
More than 2763 members of Emmax ,Their OEM and SEM point are all gone .
Emmax don’t want to pay back the OEM & SEM point to all SE/Emmax members .
then how??!!!! all our hard earn money just go down the drain like that??? if we trans our points to emmax, does it mean that all records gone???
More than 2763 member of my group the OEM & SEM(Refund Money) point all gone .
Our SE’s ICC card already reached Emmax Hong Kong office but they don’t allow us the collect .
Emmax website closed down already : http://www.em-max.com
Emmax is gone . Our hard earn money is gone .
In actual fact the pre trial conference was suppose to be on 5 March.I wonder why the sudden change of date.
It was already unfortunate that the authorities takes more than a year to investigate this case.
I really hope that there should be no more delay as everyone will want to know what went wrong and what will be the final outcome.
We hope that whatever records sunshine had, it was with CAD, as they can retrieve the data (even if it were deleted) in order to come up with the trails that were done, and to account all the $$, and of course our records. I mean our e-points which are real $$$$$$$$.
anyone got the letter issued by empire property venture saying we can pay to epv sunshine villa melaka using sunshine empire e-points? I need that letter urgently please. Hope somone can help. tq
Whether we are still under Sunshine or Emmax the epoints in our account which is actual $$$ should be honoured.
If not honoured then it goes to show clearly they are crooks and will need to be dealt with.
I hope those involved and are charge will not abuse the trust of many who trusted them in the first place.
If they think they have did nothing wrong then please prove to the authorities.
Everytime stupid James Phang change his name of company , members loss all their investment money .
2001
NOP(Number One Product):
1) 1000 Singaporeans losing about $2 million in total.
2) Scam Project
3) Believed that the investors never received any refund on their investments.
2003
NTI (Niu Trend Lifestyle)
1) James Phang invest in NTL to helped his brother Phang Song Hua who facing bankrucy.(All money is comes from members).
2) All NTI member didn’t not earn money but loss all their money.
2007 (November)
Sunshine Empire,Singapore:
1) Shut Down by Singapore Government (CAD)
2) 30,000 Singaporeans losing millions of dollar.(Member’s Money)
3) All Merchant never received any refund on their investment
2008( Feb )
Sunshine Empire,Malaysia :
1) Shut Down by Malaysia Government
2) 20,000 Malaysians been cheated by James Phang & losing millions of dollar.(Member’s money)
3) EMall loss USD 1.8 million merchant’s money.
4) All Malaysia Merchant never received any refund on their investment
2008 ( April )
Emmax Hong Kong :
1) Emmax is Not Approved by Hong Kong SC
2) Joint venture with Sands(Casino) . Loss USD2.7 Billion member’s money.
2009 ( January)
Emmax Hong Kong
1) Emmax still is not approved by the Hong Kong SC and Beneficence International investment (Group) Company limited
2) Another New Scam : Online Gamble (Grand Elitia)
3) Collecting Money from members to invest in online gambling .
2009( February)
1) Sunshine Empire(Singapore) James Pang,Jakie Hoo,Neo Kuon Huay(JP’s wife ) & Yong Wai Hong was charged by CAD .
2009 (19th,March)
1) Bank Negara Malaysia Charged Sunshine Empire Sdn Bhd for Illegal Deposit Taking.
2) Colin Hoo was beaten by 3 Emmax’s members because of giving empty promises .
2009 (March)
1) Emmax,singapore totally have closed down for operation .
2) Emmax (Hong Kong) annouced that they won’t issue of ICC card to old Sunshine Empire member for the refund.
3) Emmax(Hong Kong) have stoped to pay all Emmax member monthly returns.
3) All Emmax project failed . Never exist .
2009 (April )
1) All sunshine Empire member never have their return which was promised by James Phang the refund on October2008 .James Phang cheated all members.
2) All Emmax Member never received their monthly returns as promised by Emmax (Hong Kong).
James Phang just keep spending and loss all member’s hard earn money .
Member get all the suffering .
Emmax want members to suffer.