April 17, when the site add the "disclaimer-like"...
April 10, after I find out this service is actually a scam, based on the DatingFactory.com platform. ]
As a single in Beijing, I thought I'd go through some online dating to find some nice relationship. There are quite a few dating websites out there, and I first set my mind on Bejingdating.Expatica.Com.
After having filled my profile for free, the website proposed me to upgrade my profile to "Gold" or "VIP". Not for free, obviously. I thought: later, let's first wait and see.
Soon after that, I started receiving several emails from different members. "Cool", I said. Except the website won't let me read those messages at all until I subscribe to the payee-option! Ok, I went for the "gold" membership: girls are writing to me, and it would be too bad to miss a chance, right? So I gave my bank card info, got cashed out, and...
... and this is when the disappointment came up. Take a looks at those messages I was finally able to read (I removed the members names):
Member 1 :
S: perfect match!
M: So how has your dating experience been? The dating site tells me that you and I are the perfect match! Would you like to find out if they are right?
Member 2:
S: perfect match!
M: So how has your dating experience been? The dating site tells me that you and I are the perfect match! Would you like to find out if they are right?
Member 3:
S: drop me a message
M: I've been scrolling through profiles here and most of them were just too dull but I can say that we have a lot of things in common and I would think we'd make a great match!
Member 4:
S: drop me a message
M: I've been scrolling through profiles here and most of them were just too dull but I can say that we have a lot of things in common and I would think we'd make a great match!
Hey, hey, what's going on here? Different persons are sending me identical messages! There's something wrong here!
Oh, I received quite a few others emails, won't copy-paste them all here but please get my word that they were all using this kind of impersonal writing style, like they could have been addressed to any man out there.
And despite I replied to every single email I've got, no response came back, no chance to have a "real" email exchange.Of course I know those websites are here to make money and use lots of tricks like that to make you pay, but that's the first time I see a so obviously "fake" method.
And yes I know some persons are coming to those websites to lead different kind of bad business, from working girls to the I-marry-you-if-you-drop-me-1000$-for-my-flight. Would have it been so, how come my emails get no response and those members account are not suspended?
So if you were thinking of subscribing on Bejingdating.Expatica.Com, be careful. I'm not saying it's a scam, because there is no proof the creators are creating the situation themselves, but there is at least something really wrong with this dating website.
Update March 18:
Breaking news: after one month and something like 15 "fake" messages, I finally received a real email from a real woman! I can therefore confirm that even though Beijingdating.expatica.com uses some very contestable methods to push members to register, they can't be regarded as a scam.
Update March 19:
Even though it's not a scam, I have to say I'm keeping on receiving copy-pasted messages. For archiving purpose, here are those messages and how many "members" I've received them from:
- Are you from this town?
Hi! I would like to know if you are from this town or not? Me? I just moved here and I hope to find someone who can show me around. What is your story??
--> received from 2 members - Hi
Hi there! How are you? I'm glad to find some singles here on this dating site and it seems that you might be also looking for a match like me:) Care to chat and know each other more?
--> received from 3 members - do you like me?
How are you? If you like me, let's get to know each other more
--> received from 2 members - drop me a message
I've been scrolling through profiles here and most of them were just too dull but I can say that we have a lot of things in common and I would think we'd make a great match!
--> received from 3 members - How is it going?
Hi! How is it going? I may not know you that well but you seem fun and interesting! Would you like to chat? - ...
Update April 10:
Okay - In case I had any doubt, I've got confirmed this service is a SCAM when I tried to, simply, "suspend billing" after two month. Guess what? The service is actually asking me to PRINT AND FAX a form to proceed! Yes, your read is right: we're in 2014 and I do need to find a FAX MACHINE in order to suspend my subscription.
Hey hey hey, here comes the final clue: at the end of daily emails, they have an "unsubscribe" link that point to "datingfactory.com". Uh? So I went to visit that website only to realize it's a generic dating platform, aiming to pull out a maximum of money from lonely souls like you and I. They state it very clearly (the emphasis is from me):
"We offer a full range of private label dating solutions. Use one of our template websites available in 22 languages"
"Start earning with us today. "
"We are focused on delivering to all our affiliates and partners as much revenue per member for as long as possible."
If you want to puke a little bit more, go and read their "niche dating" section too - the one I felt in. Quotes of their offer:
"Members data base to pre-populate each niche site."
"For the members of the site: [...] Database of like minded people to instantly connect with. "
Not enough? An extract from their FAQ (the emphasis is from me):
Q: Are the dating niches pre-populated?
A: Yes. Every niche is carefully created, pre-populated with members and tested to make sure that when you start promoting it you get instant conversion rates from the day one.
Q: Can I send dating newsletters to my dating white label sites members?
A: Yes, you can send out dating newsletters to your members through the ECRM management interface and also change the look of all the emails that are sent out to your members by the system.
--> Fake profiles, fake emails, you get it. DatingFactory.com itself is NOT a scam: it helps others, like beijingdating.expatica.com, to build their own scams.
[[[ Update: I realized shortly after that I was wrong here: DatingFatroy IS a scam, since they are the same entity as Bejingdating.expatica.com. But they try to look like a separate one. Nice tried. ]]]
In conclusion: YES, beijingdating.expatica.com is definitely a SCAM.
Mind for yet another update?
I fed the FAX number +441278428049 given by Beijingdating.expatica.com to my favorite search engine, and it lead me there: http://www.datech.ltd.uk/contact-us/
A UK-based company? Is Datech Ltd the one running Beijingdating.expatica.com? Let the IP addresses talk:
Name: beijingdating.expatica.com Address: 95.154.204.180
Name: datech.ltd.uk Address: 95.154.204.190
Oh yes, they are indeed in the same network. That's very clear who tried to scam me.
And btw:
Name: datingfactory.com Address: 78.129.235.33
Name: datingfactory.net Address: 95.154.204.182
DatingFactory.com is not in the same network, but: if we Whois them, we find the registrant address is the same as the Datech Ltd postal address in their contact info page (the one I gave above)! Now regarding the DatingFatory.net site, which appeared quite a few times during me researches, it is also in the same network as Datech.They're all one, organized to scam the world.
And when I read my post again, I realize I first got to the wrong conclusion that DatingFactyory.com is not the scam business unit itself. That was before finding out they are originated from the same unit, Datech Ltd or whatever you name it.
If you want to have one more slice of cynicism, you can even check the interview from DAtech LTD's CEO, where he looks so proud to have established leadership in the end-user scamming business (although those professionals rather use the investors-friendly name "White Label Dating"):
https://www.google.fi/search?q=datech.ltd.uk+CEO+interview
First link in the search result. Also have a look at the comments, showing some professionals having very serious discussion about differences between WLD, WDP, and others disguised words which all mean in the end: ways to scam the world. Pathetic. But those guys are probably lots richer than me, so please pay respect to them.
Update April 17th
Although I have cancelled my billing, "member" are still sending me copy-pasted messages ; but: today there's some news, the copy-pasted message from the new member includes a disclaimer saying the "member" hasn't actually sent any message by herself:
- HELLO!
(**** has requested that we send you this icebreaker on their behalf)
How have you been doing? Still looking for a match? Well, same here! I hope we both find our matches, or could you be the one I'm looking for?
That's all folks.
