14 Comments

1. These are the EMC comments linked above (http://inventblog.com/2007/02/blame-it-on-the-continu-rain.html):

   ~~~~~~
   Hello and thank you for this forum. My sister and I invented curtain hardware and had tried to get it on the market. We had great reviews, was shown by a magazine in the industry (on the road) and recieved great reviews. To Date, nothing. But today I recieved an email from a Dr. Fa’iz Imam, Executive Director of Emirates Manufacturing Corporation. Our actual names were used, our product name was used and I am skeptical of the email. But the content was to purchase our intellectual property. Has anyone in this blog ever hear of Emirates Manufacturing Corporation? I appreciate any information even as how to search about them. Thank you in advance.
   Comment by Linda Laster-Bivens — May 29, 2007

   ~~~~~~
   Okay, I have tried to figure out how this company may have found my name and email but I am still unsure. In the email the subject matter was “the Delightful System” which is what we call our product and then the email was addressed to both myself and my business partner. Now, are there search engines that find email addresses? Can anyone out there help me with some information? (On the united inventors association site, I believe that my email was posted there-we did list it in the new products for license or sale) Could that be the route that was taken? Thanks in advance for any advice and information on this group.
   Comment by Linda Laster-Bivens — May 29, 2007

   Comment by nipper — June 25, 2007 #

2. Well really; if they made a reasonable effort to promote their product and/or licensing offer how could they _not_ get all of their specifics! Isn’t that exactly what was intended?

   It sounds like we need a guinea pig who has received one of these offers to play along to see what the deal is. If you are getting requests for info on EMC, they must now be spamming in earnest. Can we draft a recipient into a “live blogged” interaction with the good Doctor? Some great summer fun for your readers.

   Comment by Keith Nagel — June 25, 2007 #

3. This is another invention promotion fraud. It is a variation of the Nigerian scams. We first became aware of this in December of 2004.

   We all learn early on in life that purchasing any product or service without understanding the market first is likely to lead to us paying far too much or even lead to us being outright cheated.

   The invention business is no different, except for the fact that it is much more complicated. The only way to proceed in the business is by learning before leaping.

   We see an endless stream of victims. They are people who have been skinned for typically 10-50 thousand dollars, and the worst case was in the $400,000 vicinity!

   Start by reading http://www.InventorEd.org/novice. Pay special attention to the referenced section about fraud and also our email based inventor discussion group, Inventors-L.

   Ronald J. Riley,
   President - http://www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
   Executive Director - http://www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
   Senior Fellow - http://www.PatentPolicy.org - RRiley at PatentPolicy.org
   Washington, DC
   Direct (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 9 pm EST.

   Comment by Ronald Riley — June 25, 2007 #

4. EMC has asked me to submit $7600.00 to a Lawyer in London so my invention would be registered in the Gulf Coast Council which the United Arab Emirates are a part of. The lawyers name they recommended is Ken Green, who appears to be a legit lawyer from what I found on the internet. I just wish I could find more information on the company EMC.

   Comment by David Bartholome — June 25, 2007 #

5. Regarding: Emirates Manufacturing Corporation (“EMC”) Dubai, UAE.

   These thieves appear to find inventors by using search engines to find their websites and they target a U.S. website inventors pay to have their inventions and contact info posted to.

   Contact Names used in emails to inventors include but may not be limited to:

   Paul Idriss
   Dr. Makik Samtani (emaco@consultant.com)
   In one email from patent agent Don Kelly
   the “details” box origination name/location
   was: Bola Oneal in Lagos, Nigeria.
   Chang Tatanwan
   Paul Wong Chee
   Wong Chee and Company of Japan
   Chang Tatanwan
   Dr. Fa’iz Imam

   Common contact phone numbers:
   (a) +971-503-376-2013
   (b) Ph/Fax: +971-502-933-650

   Websites now closed down:
   http://www.emiratesmc.com
   http://www.consultant.com

   Common address:
   168/172 Al Rifa Street
   Bur Dubai
   UAE

   Common “buy-out” amounts offered:
   $1,000,000 and/or $15,000,000 - $35,000,000

   Common denominators:
   a) Meet me in London or Canada so I can transfer two trunks of money totaling $35,000,000 using diplomatic immunity to get them through customs.
   b) Do not tell anyone of our transaction
   c) United Arab Emirates
   d) Inventors contact info posted to a particular website (sells web pages to inventors who haven’t figured out how to manufacture or license their inventions).
   e) Samtani and others claim to operate under the legitimate auspices of :
   The RAK Investment Authority
   Govt of Ras Al Khaimah
   P.O.Box No.: 31291
   Ras Al Khaimah
   United Arab Emirates
   Ph: +971 - 07 - 2446533 / 7251 / 7253
   Fax: +971 - 07 - 2447202 / 7697
   http://www.rak-ia.com/Contactus.aspx

   [[Note: NO alteration in grammar, spelling, co-joined words, lack of punctuation, or content has been made to the below email obviously drafted by a foreign national.]]

   1. Common emails irrespective of invention started around October 2005: “we’ll pay you for an outright buyout of your invention for $35-million. It goes on, “you should stop further negotiation with any other person, as this would give me a sense of security that the patent is still for me.” Idriss goes on to state, “And again I request that this transaction should be kept discreet as I would not want third party like attorney, nominee or proxy involvement, all transaction would be handled by both parties because the Unite Arab Emirate (UAE) government is against such huge investment on foreign inventions like your so in other for me not to run into problem With the authority I request that you keep our discussion personal and confidential until I effect payment and take over the patent right The payment would be made in Europe precisely London or Canada the fund would be conveyed to any of the above city for your claim The fund would be boxed in two trunk boxes andairlifted to any of the above city and would be cleared from the country’s customs department and deposited in a diplomatic vault pending your arrival or contact for claim. I will give you the contact details of the diplomatic attaché who would assist you with all the arrangement his contact details would be give to you as soon as we are ready for the transaction The diplomat can also help you deliver the fund consignment to your home base under diplomatic cover if you cannot travel to any of the above city
   The reason why the transaction has to go this way is because the government of Unite Arab Emirate (UAE) is against huge capital movement out of the country and the direct transfer of this fund could cause the Government to accuse me of money laundering orterrorism financing and we could also loose over 45%
   Finally, if this arrangement is okay by you let me know so that I can prepare and send an agreement for your perusal and the agreement would govern this transaction you can call me on my direct line +9715033762013.

   In another email his message is basically the same as the above except he uses “cases” instead of “boxed in two trunks.” Paul Idriss (or whomever he really is) claimed to work for Paul Wong Chee of Hong Kong, China.

   In another email he claims to own Wong Chee and Company in Japan. However, you’ll note usage of “United Arab Emirates” in his email.

   2. October 2005 an email (one of many to different inventors apparently around the world) was from EMC signed by Dr.Malik Samtani, Chairman and Chief Exec. It listed an Arab Emirates address and phone number: +971-502-933-650 and mention Rakia.

   [[Note: RAKIA is legitimate. I emailed them providing all the above names and EMC’s contact info. I heard back from “Ramen” who stated: “We are not into this kind of business and they are not authorized to transact any business on our behalf.” ]]

   Samtani’s emails indicate EMC is a “new player” in the “Industrial Sector” of the UAE under “the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA)” and “We have carefully studied the submissions you made with respect to the invention, and our board of directors is satisfied and read to proceed wit the buyout as planned. However, with regarding to the pricing, we have considered the option of outright purchase with no royalties, as we have resolved to offer $15,000,000 USD for the buyout of the invention as our opening bid. Should you consider selling at our offered price, then you may countersign the attached Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA), and forward same to us as an email attachment. We are confident that the signed and attached CDA will be adequate as provisional agreement to cover the preliminary aspects of the sale. This will be followed by our making a 40% down payment against he agreed buyout price, as a show of good faith on our part, which will serve as a means to hold down the agreed price and the entire deal firmly; pending when our representatives will meet with you personally to sign a comprehensive sales/purchase agreement. At that time our representatives will also seize the opportunity to inspect any available prototypes, and other hard copy documentation relating to the invention, and subsequently make he final balance of payment to cover the agreed purchase price.”

   It appears not to matter whether it’s a fly swatter, mousetrap or whatever. Anything will do. Anyone who would fall for such a scam and worse, pay them money to secure such a foolish “deal” let alone meet them in a foreign country, has to have his/her head examined.

   So far we’ve not heard of one inventor who has met with them let alone traveled to Europe or North America (Canada) perhaps that is why both their websites have been closed. I was assumed a fee would surface if someone took the bait or is contemplating taking the bait and now we have preliminary evidence in the form of David’s posting they asked him for $7,600 upfront and painted legitimacy on it by securing a London lawyer to make it look like it’s a genuine opportunity. Obviously the London lawyer has no idea this is scam and will be informed along with the email address for “Ramen” (gm@rakinvestmentauthority.com) at RAKIA: http://www.rkainvestmentauthority.com or
   http://www.rak-ia.com/

   Take a look at what the real mission of Rakia is (see website link above). DO NOT PAY THESE THIEVES money. It’s a scam. See the U.K. post made by “David” asked to them $7,600.

   Regards,
   Penny

   Comment by Penny Ballou — June 26, 2007 #

6. So it’s the standard advanced fee fraud. I love the part about sending the two trunks full of cash, very cinematic. I still think Stephen ought to “represent” one of the recipients and bait the scammers, that’s comedy gold waiting to be uncovered…just don’t hop on that plane, lest you end up like that poor BBC journalist in Gaza.

   Comment by Keith Nagel — June 26, 2007 #

7. Keith,

   Actually it’s a complete waste of time messing with these fools plus it is counter-productive.

   I have alerted the UK attorney cited in David’s post indicating he may be an innocent victim of what I see as money laundering scheme.

   Regards,
   Penny

   Comment by Penny Ballou — June 26, 2007 #

8. One of several emails has surfaced to inventor LGB in (U.S.) Georgia signed by Dr. Fa’iz Imam, Executive Director. Same address in Dubai is being used.

   She was asked to send $7,600 to “Managing Partner” Ken Green in London and to call him with any questions. The email address and phone number are those of attorney Ken Green below.

   He has not responded let alone acknowleged my email informing him that a scam is afoot. Something smells and it’s not my cooking:

   Ken Green Law Chambers
   187 Coldershaw Road,
   West Ealing W13 9EA
   Phone: +44-787-945-5207
   Email: ipregistrar@execs.com

   Regards,
   Penny

   Comment by Penny Ballou — June 28, 2007 #

9. Update: 6/28/07 6:19PM PST:

   The inventor mentioned above (LGB) just sent me the following email:

   “Ken Green Chambers is the english speaking GCC representive that Dr. Imam put me in contact with to make the transaction easier for me. I did speak to him, and he seemed mighty excited that I called. I guest he thought he really had a sucker. I think that I was surpose to send him the money so that he could register my company, however, I did not get that far because after talking to him, I knew something was wrong. His voice sound just like that Dr. Imam. I hope these scrammers are caught.”

   Comment by Penny Ballou — June 28, 2007 #

10. I have contacted CIPA in England (Chartered Institute of Patent Agents) to learn if an attorney exists named Ken Green and if so what his address is.

    Likely he does not and these fools have created a website named Ken Green Law Chambers in Ealing, Middlesex, UK along with a phone number they answer “Ken Green” when naive inventors call to validate he exists.

    I’ve also contacted inventors in Ealing to find out if the alleged address of Ken Green Law Chambers is merely a P.O. Box or an apartment (flat) drop off point.

    Comment by Penny Ballou — June 30, 2007 #

11. I’ve heard back from the “Chartered Institute of Patent Agents” in the UK. They plan to “investigate further” the Ken Green Law Chambers.

    They’ve not heard of any of the lawyers and perhaps that is because they don’t exist. The website originates out of India. In other words, anyone can register as a lawyer on that site as long as they pay the advertising price.

    Regards,
    Penny

    Comment by Penny Ballou — July 2, 2007 #

12. Dear Ms. Penny Ballou,
    My name is Michael McClendon and I live in Philadelphia. On 5/29 the good “Doctor Fi’az” e-mailed me and said my invention had been fully reviewed by EMC and $18 million was coming my way. Long story short, one month later and zero monies in or out of my pocket, the “Dr.” disapears. Shortly there after, I found Steve and his blog. He mentioned you to me and said we have someone in common.
    If you have the time I’d like to share some stories ref. Fi’az and EMC. It was quite the ride, but I came out of it unscathed (sp?). I’m admittedly bad at navigating a computor and my spelling is even worse. My 17 year old daughter comes to my rescue when needed (ok, often).
    I’ve documented everything from his first hello to slaming the door in my face. Your efforts/endevors with Dr. Iman have been a great read. If you’d like, lets compare notes!

    Thanking you in advance,
    Michael McClendon

    Comment by Michael McClendon — July 19, 2007 #

13. Hi Michael,

    Sorry about the delay but for some reason I’m not getting notification when a post has been made.

    Nevertheless, if you read this you’ll find me via any search engine.

    Regards,
    Penny Ballou

    Comment by Penny Ballou — August 3, 2007 #

14. The Emc is oone big fraud. Now there is a lady that suppose to have a large sun of money and want someone to help her share the money. She is in the Uk Or somewhere like Dr.Fa’za. Run from these people they are only trying to get your money.

    Comment by Bernice Dennis — October 14, 2007 #

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