Monday, November 11, 2013

CONTINUED COVERAGE: Interush Closed in Hong Kong, tracing news report timeline

The first report of Interush being a possible pyramid scheme first surface in Hong Kong on 1-NOV-2013. This is a line-by-line translation out of Apple Daily News of Hong Kong

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20131101/18488732

科技公司招會員 



Tech Company Looking for Affiliates

稱上市後可分紅百萬



Claims after IPO can share profit 1 million

400內地人 排通宵發夢



400 Mainlanders lined up overnight for dreams of riches

■大批內地人在港鐵紅磡站外排隊攞籌,希望加入Interush成為會員。梁偉權攝
Lots of Mainlanders waiting outside HKRail Homhung station hoping for a chance to join Interush, photo by WeiChuan Liang
【本報訊】港鐵紅磡站昨有數百名內地人排隊,
At the HomHang HKRail station there were hundreds of people lined up
甚至不惜通宵瞓街,
Even sleep in the street overnight
目的是想加入一間聲稱即將上市的科技公司成為會員,
Purpose to to join as affiliate, a tech company that claims it will IPO soon
該公司稱上市後會員有機會分紅過百萬元,
This company claimed when it IPO affiliates have a chance to receive over 1 million
故昨吸引近400人為此黃金夢蜂擁而至。
Thus yesterday attract nearly 400 people who dreams of gold and riches
就昨日情況,估計該公司昨一天已收取年費近1,000萬元。
Based on yesterday, this company on that one day would have received yearly fees of 10 million. 
有立法會議員促請警方調查,了解是否屬違規集資。
Parliament member request police to investigate, understand if this is illegal public offering of securities.
記者:郭美華 梁偉權 馮國良


Reporters MaiHua Guo, WeiChuang Liang, GuoLiang Fong
記者昨前往該公司位於紅磡都會大廈辦公室了解,
Reporter yesterday went to the company office at HomHang DuHui building to investigate
職員稱負責人出差,不作回應;
Employee claimed that person in charge is out on business, no answers
記者再致電熱線,有操普通話女職員介紹入會細節,
Reporter than called the company hotline. A female employee speaking Mandarin (Editor's note: Hong Kong speaks Cantonese, Mainland China speaks Mandarin)  explained how to join as affiliate. 
但當問及公司是否正申請上市及分紅事宜,
When asked if the company is going to IPO and split profit with affiliates
她則稱不能向非會員透露。
She said these are details that are not revealed to non-affiliates. 
警方發言人指商罪科未接獲相關舉報,
HKPD spokesperson said that Commercial Crime Bureau has not received any complaints
但指市民如懷疑被騙可報警,
But pointed out any citizens, if they suspect they have been defrauded, should report it to the police. 
警方發現涉及刑事成份的行為定會依法調查。
Police will investigate any portions that involves possibly criminal behavior. 
起爭議的雲端科技公司「Interush」,
This controversial cloud tech company "Interush"
網頁報稱03年於美國加州成立,
Was allegedly created in California, USA in 2003, according to webpages
主要生產網上雲端程式,
Primary product is Internet Cloud Software
在美、加、日、台及香港均有公司。
have branch offices in US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong
據公司註冊處資料香港Interush股東為百慕達登記公司,
According to HK Companies House (registrar) Interush is owned by a company registered in Bermuda. 
董事Martin J. Matthews為公司的全球執行長,
CEO is Martin J. Matthews
網上個人介紹指他曾帶領其他公司股價暴升。
Netizens claimed that he had lead other companies to meteoric stock price rises.
據悉,Interush不少上線會員都聲稱公司一旦上市,
會員可獲巨額分紅,
Affiliates can receive huge profit shares
以此作招徠以朋友介紹的方式不斷吸引下線會員入會,
And use that to entice "friend introduction" method to keep recruiting downlines to join as affiliates
據本報取得的講座資料,
According to presentation material obtained by this newspaper
曾有人聲稱若會員每年付2.4萬年費及介紹足夠人數入會,
According to reports, if affiliates pay 24000 (HKD) yearly fee, and recruit enough affiliates
即可每年賺取60萬至80萬的點數,
Can earn yearly about 60000 to 80000 "points"
待日後Interush上市,
Later when Interush goes IPO
預測會員將有機會在三年內累積獲利逾120萬元
Predict that affiliates has a chance to cumulatively get 1.2 million (HKD) over 3 years. 
,講座亦提及「會員首次必須到香港分公司辦理登記」。
The presentation also mentioned "affiliates just register in Hong Kong branch"
■會場外有保安把守,不准外人擅自進入。Outside of meeting has security, does not allow uninvolved people in.

Interush曾活躍於內地及台灣

Interush was really hot in Mainland and Taiwan
由於盛傳10月份入會,
There were popular reports that if you join in October
上市後可多分紅9,000元,
After IPO you can get extra 9000
昨日是10月的最後一天,
Yesterday was October 31st, final day
因此數百名內地人趕來港排隊取籌入會,
Hundreds of mainlanders came to Hong Kong to line up for a chance to join
甚至有人通宵瞓街。昨晨8時許,
Some even sleep in the street over night. As of yesterday morning 8AM
該公司已派籌400個,以每人2.4萬元入會費計算,
Company has passed out 400 admit tokens. At 24000 yearly fee per person
昨單日收取年費高達960萬元。
They must have received, on that one day, yearly fee of 9.6 million
記者見持籌者被帶往都會海逸酒店宴會廳辦理入會手續及發給會員申請書,
Reporter saw that those with tokens are directed to DuHui Haiduen Hotel's banquet hall to complete the affiliate agreement and complete the procedure
但申請表卻列明2.4萬元年費僅屬「雲端服務使用月費」,
However the application states that 24000 yearly fee is "cloud service monthly fee"
參加者並須簽署確認「參加動機絕非以投資為目的」,
Participants must sign and confirm "I understand my intention is not to invest"
不過眾參加者仍深信公司會上市令他們獲巨利。
However, those to joined deeply believe that company will IPO and make them rich. 
該公司數年前已活躍於內地及台灣,
This company was active in mainland and Taiwan for many years
有內地報章曾以大篇幅報道Interush經營手法,
A few years ago mainland newspaper have reported controversial behavior of Interush
並質疑公司要求內地會員在香港繳會費是否為迴避內地法律;
And wondered if the company is trying to skirt mainland laws by requiring mainland members to join in Hong Kong
另09年台灣已有網民於討論區質疑該公司遲遲未上市令家人要不斷交年費。
In 2009 Taiwan netizens have wondered why haven't this company gone IPO yet continued to insist its members keeping paying the monthly fees
民主黨立法會議員何俊仁律師質疑該公司是否有詐騙或誤導成份,
Congressional member JunZen Ho (esq) questioned if the company is misleading the public
認為警方應主動搜集證據;立法會議員王國興亦要求商業罪案調查科介入調查。
Believe that the police should start investigating; GuoXing Wang, another congressional member, also requested commercial crime bureau to investigate as well. 
--- article end---
Those who read this blog often may recall this is the same sort of scam that Vantone pulled in China. They use the bait of "company will go IPO, stock will go through the roof, and if you buy our stuff now we'll give you a chance to buy some shares now!"
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4 comments:

  1. Interush.com had known that one day they would be apprehended so earlier made it seem scammers from Mainland China were putting out fake websites soliciting funds. They knew down the road they would be busted and so prepared the public mind accordingly. But who can be fooled? See below


    BEWARE OF FAKE INTERUSH® WEBSITES
    2/25/2011

    Fake INTERUSH® Websites

    Interush has recently become aware of several fake websites, using the INTERUSH® brand name, logo, employee name and office address without our permission, in order to solicit investments from the general public.

    We would like to strongly caution all affiliates, as well as members of the general public who are considering investing with these fake websites, that Interush is not affiliated with, sponsoring, or involved with these fake websites in any way. The only authorized Interush websites are (1) http://interush.com/ (2) http://interush.net/ (3) http://interush.tw/ (4) http://interush.com.hk/ and other related websites listed at (5) http://interush.com/jp/products.php

    Interush believes that these fake websites are originating from China, and we are currently taking all possible legal action to have these sites taken down. Interush will not tolerate unauthorized and illegal use of our trademarked INTERUSH® brand name and logo.

    If asked by others, please refer to this statement above as your response. Thank you.


    The real person to be arrested is CEO Martin J. Matthews, not a certain Edward. He is the brainchild of this Madofflike Asian Scam and the Hongkong authorities should leave no stone unturned. In exchange for fat monthly salaries of between 60,000 and 100,000 HKD top affiliates went on the kill, lying and convincing hordes of people to enroll, swell company numbers and coffers. This information will be seen in impounded computers if the Hong Kong authorities do the right thing like the USA did with Zeekrewards. Are you waiting people should come up to complain? The Asian doesn't want to lose face, especially over something some have convinced family and friends to join.

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  2. Marty Matthews has been arrested by the Hong Kong Commercial Crimes Bureau and charged with anti-money laundering. This is a fact, so not to worry. He was arrested an released. Hong Kong banks have reportedly frozen 30m USD in company cash.

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    Replies
    1. Unless there's arrest record or other proof it's kinda hard to accuse someone of having been arrested in Hong Kong.

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  3. See footnote [6] of http://legalref.judiciary.gov.hk/lrs/common/search/search_result_detail_frame.jsp?DIS=99782&QS=%2B&TP=JU. Mr MJ Matthews was formally charged with “Conspiracy of s 25(1) offence” on 31 March 2015.

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