ARE YOU FROM UK???? I need your help BADLY!!!
By Theresaaiza
@Theresaaiza (10487)
Australia
October 16, 2009 1:55am CST
Hi, you may not be from UK to help me out though. Perhaps you too can give a sound advice what to do.
I am from Philippines and im helping out a friend coz she may be a probable victim. YOu see she has a friend from UK who sent a package containing cash, a laptop, and some very important pictures through a carrier so named as WORLD ACCESS DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Earlier today, she got a call from this service telling her that the package is already in Malaysia and will be shipped to the Philippines but that she needed to pay 450 dollars for the package to be shipped from Malaysia to our country.
Now that is causing us our anxiety. What if this carrier isn't legal or legitimate because as far as I know, all payments and transactions are done and paid for by the sender, and in the place of origin! Although I am not an expert in these areas, the thing is, I have never experienced anything like this.
Another thing is that, WORLD ACCESS couldn't give a tracking number unless she pays 450 dollars.
Do you by any chance have any idea if WORLD ACCESS exists in your place? Have you heard of cases where the recipient had to pay something to claim a certain package from somewhere? Where can we ask for assistance in situations like this?
Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
1 person likes this
10 responses
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
16 Oct 09
This sounds like fraud. As far as I know, no legitimate delivery system would charge that much money... nowhere NEAR that amount! Also, for the package to be delivered just so far, then not move any more until this money is received, that is unheard of. Full payment for shipping is paid before the package leaves it's origin.
I'd say that this should be investigated by fraud units. In the United States, we have an organization called the United States Secret Service International Fraud Unit. I'm sure other countries have something similar and this sounds like something they should investigate.
How in the world did this person from the U.K. even HEAR of this fraudulent carrier?
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
19 Oct 09
This smells of fraud all the way. How could anyone choose a carrier that doesn't even exist? I'm betting that this "friend" is not a friend at all, but a scammer who has promised these so-called "gifts" but in reality is trying to defraud your friend.
I've received lots of emails promising dirt-cheap things like laptops and other electronic goods at impossible prices. The scam is the "delivery charges" to a non-existent company. If anyone falls for this and pays the delivery charges, they'll just end up losing all their money and receive nothing for it.
Plus, charging $450.00 for delivery fees is, in itself, fraud. We can have cars, heavy appliances and very heavy stuff like that delivered for far less money!
I'm betting there is no "package" at all. You should advise your friend of this. Since the carrier does not exist (they would be online if they were legitimate), they are just trying to scam your friend out of her money.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
poverty does have its sunny side. Fortunately, my friend doesn't have that enough money anyway, so at least that is a blessing in disguise right. A way for her not to be fooled.
Actually I just learned a while ago that the "sender" finally knew (I dunno how) that the "carrier" was illegal in a way that even if it couldn't deliver in Asian countries except Malaysia (I guess), it would try to "push" the packages to these countries.
But gee, even that story is quite hard to believe. Why would a country restrict an international carrier if it's legitimate?
And my friend was even told that the procdeure involved in this is like "COLLECT" something. I forgot the term. Well it's like a collect call where the receiver pays for the long distance call. Similar to this, the receiver pays for the package to be delivered. Is there such a thing?
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
The way I understood it, the sender delegated the "sending" to another friend who chose that carrier. So that when my friend got the call from this so called WORLD ACCESS, asking money and everything, she informed the sender of this and so the sender couldn't give exact details too because first and foremost, it wasn't him/her who sent the package, he/she just asked somebody else to do it.
I agree, almost all cases, all transaction are done from the place of origin.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
16 Oct 09
Oh gee I hope not.....
We must investigate hard before giving that 450 dollars! Or else we would be in deep trouble
We must investigate hard before giving that 450 dollars! Or else we would be in deep trouble1 person likes this
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Something doesn't seem right here. When I was working abroad I have sent countless packages many times and haven't encountered a problem like this one. What I find strange is that normally payments are made in the point of origin with the understanding that there are no more extra charges. Secondly, the absence or a tracking number is questionable. That's one of the first things a shipper gets upon turning over his package to the carrier. Thirdly, why call from Malaysia? that was not in the agreement. Is your friend sure that the call really originated from Malaysia? I am not saying that the company is illegitimate, although all indications are. Nevertheless, if I were you, I will continue to do a research on this. Try the internet and search WORLD ACCESS. It is possible that the company that received the package is only a subsidiary or a local agent. I'm not sure.
One thing I'm sure, I've never heard a case like this before and I smell something fishy here.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
16 Oct 09
I did surf the net and found no World Access. I also looked in listings of UK carriers but there was no World Access. I know something's really fishy but I do not want to panic just yet. Gotta investigate on this. I would feel so sorry if the money and the laptop would get lost.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
20 Oct 09
I will tell her that but whatever they agree upon there is nothing more I could do to help her.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
It is indeed very suspicious. My friend stopped sorting her way through this problem because it has caused arguments between her and the sender.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
16 Oct 09
I'm not in the UK, but this sure sounds like a scam to me. How good is the friendship between your friend and the UK friend? If World Access is a legitimate company (highly doubtful) why would they be so secretive about the tracking number, although with privacy laws that information may only be available to the shipper. The UK friend should be called and ask for an explanaition on that charge, and request that it be paid from his end. My guess is that he (or she) will refuse to do that. In that case, your friend should refuse to claim this delivery. Should she opt to gamble, and does pay the $450 I'd be willing to bet that the contents (if there are any) are worth far less than what she paid.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
I agree, I too felt that there is something really wrong with this. I did not ask my friend details about the sender and how good their friendship is or what their relationship to each other is. I sensed that it's something too personal. She didn't even tell me right away that there was money and laptop involved and kept referring to it as "package" and sometimes, "something". I dont know, maybe she just doesn't trust us enough to divulge some stuffs. Hehehe. Oh well, everybody has the right to privacy.
1 person likes this
@dens61 (130)
• Philippines
17 Oct 09
Hi! I am also from the Philippines and I want to give my advise for what worth it may be.
I think what you should do is to bring up the matter with the NBI because the NBI is knowledgable on these kind of worldwide scams. They will certainly help you catch these culprits if they are illegal and if they are legal the NBI have a list of their name and address. Ok?
Pls bring all the credentials for proof of the transaction and Take care. Good luck to you!
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
Your advice is very good. Thanks. Yes, I will suggest this to my friend. That is if she is still interested to get the package. I guess she has become less enthusiastic about it. But I believe she can help prevent more scams right? and keep other people from being victims.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
8 Apr 10
Hi, it turned to be a real scam. The guy wasnt European. He is malaysian trying to swindle people. It's just that my friend put it behind her and didnt even report to the authorities. I havent seen her in a while.
@dens61 (130)
• Philippines
21 Oct 09
Thank you very much for your appreciation. Yes you should tell your friend to do this inspite maybe that he is not keen on still getting the package but he can help others not to be victimize by the scammer and to help that scammer be caught and the scam to be stopped. Thanks again and I hope your friend will be lucky have a happy ending to this.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
17 Oct 09
If they could call your friend, it sounds like they have access to either the package or information about your friend. You friend should NOT pay these people without contacting her friend in the UK. $450 is a lot for anyone to pay out for the package. It sounds a LOT LIKE A SCAM AND THAT IF YOUR FRIEND PAYS THEM SHE WILL BE OUT THE MONEY ALONG WITH THE PACKAGE!!! I have heard of scams like this, and it isn't legal or legitimate. Since your search along with others has NOT come up with a carrier with this name, it is obvious that it is someone perpetrating a scam. Don't let your friend fall for it, and she should contact the person who was supposed to send the package from the UK and get the facts from them. AGAIN, DO NOT PAY THAT MUCH MONEY FOR THE PACKAGE!!! I have sent packages all over the world and have received them from all parts of the world and have never had anything like that happen. It sounds like it is a new group of people wanting to get easy money at someone else's expense. Don't fall for it.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
Thank you for the warning. If I were in her place, I would definitely just let the package go back to the sender. Besides, I dont even have a dollar to start with!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
19 Oct 09
It sounds like, to me, that the package was intercepted and stolen and the thief got the information off the package. This way not only would he have the computer and what ever else was in the package but he also would have extra cash if your friend falls for the scam.
Before she does anything she could contact the "friend" in the UK and find out what shipping company the package was sent through; or as you said, if it really was sent. Then she could contact her local authorities about the scam and see if they can get to the bottom of it.
Like you, I don't have that kind of money and sure wouldn't pay it if I did have it.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
By the way, that is if, the package ever goes back to the semder!
@craftyhomebody (443)
• United States
19 Oct 09
yes i have heard about this and it is a scam from hell she will pay the 450 dollars at this point an then there we be charge's at 2 other stop and then she will have to pay more when she go to pick it up tell her to stop spending money because that mony all go to the scammer
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
20 Oct 09
well if this is really a scam I would really warn her about it. Thanks for the response.
@ryesether (28)
• Philippines
17 Oct 09
That is obviously a scam, Thereze. Better not believe the one who called your friend. Scams are everywhere nowadays and its up to us if we want to be fooled. Its a lot of money and its really hard to earn that. If only the products are already on your hand then you could pay but it isnt. Does your friend already know this friend of her for a long time now? I haven't heard the name of the courier also, its very unusual. And like everybody said, the sendee always pays the courier fees so better ignore that call.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
Even with FED ex, reliable as it is, still you don't feel so secure until you finally touch the package and see it with your own two eyes, right? How much more this situation where you don't know what happened to those valuables? The sender should just have opted for a reliable forwarder and not some cheap but questionable ones. Tsk tsk tsk....I feel sorry for my friend. More so I feel sorry for the person who sent it.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
19 Oct 09
There must be a way to stop this or help people avoid being fooled by this. For me, no matter how expensive I would go for international carriers which are reliable and trusted.
