Bejingdating.Expatica.Com is a scam or not? Yes it is.

 [Latest update: 
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?

See? There seems to be an "icebreaker" feature that let members send automatic messages. I spent so much time reading this site's email that I'm certain it wasn't there before. Looking back in my old emails, the "icebreaker" disclaimer is sometimes there, and sometimes not. Some obvious copy-pasted emails (see my list above) still don't contain it, keeping the proof there's well a scam somewhere ; I believe they didn't want to make the trick too obvious.


That's all folks.

Vin Chinois : le vrai du faux

Ceux qui ont essayé d'acheter du vin en Chine dans leur épicerie locale le savent : il est fréquent de tomber sur des bouteilles imbuvables, des vins qui n'ont aucune chance de tourner un jour au vinaigre puisqu'ils le sont dès la naissance. Solution donnée par mes collègues : acheter en ligne, sur des sites "réputés fiable". Examinons donc le site suivant qui m'a été fourni à l'instant par une amie ("C'est le site d'un ami qui m'a promis que son vin était authentique") :  
http://www.jiuzhen001.com/category.php?id=7

"Duc de Terradou", vin du pays du Gard 264 rmb la bouteille. Je n'ai jamais entendu ce nom. Une recherche Google ne me renvoie que des pages en Chinois : pas une seule page en Français sur ce cher Duc...

"Louis Bonfleur", blanc, 396 rmb :  encore une fois, Google me renvoie principalement des pages en Chinois, quelques une en Anglais, et rien en Français. Peut être que certains vins ne sont destinés qu'à l'export, ça expliquerait.

"Syrah", Famille Castel, pays d'Oc, 356 rmb : Bien, celui là semble vrai ! Il est référencé dans quelques documents.

Conclusion : n'étant pas un expert en vin, je me contenterai à l'avenir d'effectuer quelques recherches lorsque j'achète en ligne sur des sites Chinois.

Take bus from Salo to Helsinki airport for a 7 am flight

While staying in Salo, small Finish city between Turku and Helsinki, I decided to go and visit Paris. My flight was departing at 6:55 am from Helsinki airport: how could I make it in time? Easily.

There is an express bus line between Turku and Helsinki, and deserving Salo among others. You can find bus schedule here:

http://www.matkahuolto.info/index.jsp?lang=en

In order to catch my flight in time, I’ll take the 3:50am bus to Salo bus station. It arrives at 5:25am directly at the airport: just fine.

Train is another option. However the las on is at 0:28 at salo and arrive at 1:58a at H sta. You yhen need to wait 3h at the sta for the 5am Finnair airport shuttle bus (not sure how long it takes, usually 30 minutes).

That’s it. Altoghout trai is prob more relia, I prefer to take bus and save 3h sleep

PS: others usefull Helsinkiu bus schedule info there: http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/helsinki.html

Transfer money from Europe to China VISA card (ICBC)

My French bank having big troubles in sending a new credit card to me, I decided to open a Chinese VISA card. Not as easy as it looks: I'm not Chinese and this is China. Here is how I succeed.

First, I already own a Chineses RMB account at ICBC bank, where my salary is monthly transferred. And I have an associated UnionPaid bank card to use it. On ICBC website it's presented like this: my bank account (names "E-Age"), with an attached "UnionPaid" bank card:

Seen like this, I though I would just have to request a VISA card that would get attached to my account and let me use it internationally. After all, my French VISA works like that: it's linked to an EURO account but I can get cash internationally. But in ICBC, it was different.

Creating the VISA card is easy provided 1) you are patient and 2) your girlfriend speaks Chinese. After 1 hours discussion and filling paper, I've got my VISA card. First surprise: it's not linked to my current account, it has its own money reserve I need to fill by e-tranfer. Ok. So on ICBC website it looks like that:

The VISA card doesn't have an account name, but hey. So I clicked the "Transfer" menu and in two minutes, I had transfered 2000 RMB to my VISA card. Trying the VISA card at my local ATM proved it was working as I got some RMB cash in my hands. "Cool", I said, "let's travel".

Bad idea. Once in Finland, my VISA card was refused everywhere despite the 2000 RMB on it. Why? I called the bank. They explain I cannot pay oversea using RMB: I must fill the card with US dollars (USD). Ok, how can I change RMB to USD? "You can't, sir". I can't because I haven't subscribed to the Internet service allowing to buy foreign currencies. That's the "Forex exchange market" feature, which is not enabled now. They can't enable it over the phone, and suggest I ask my parents to send some USD on my VISA card (yeah, they really said it).

Here I am: I can't use my RMB money with my VISA card. ICBC provided me a VISA card I can only use in China. Ok, facts are facts. Now, I decide to transfer some French money to my ICBC VISA to at least be able to use it. How to do?

I'll need to transfer USD to my VISA card. Fortunately, my French bank website allows me to make international transfer in USD. But how to fill transfer info? They ask me to fill that as destination account:
_ IBAN or BBAN: I just need to give my ICBC bank account number. Or, I can indicate my ICBC VISA card 16-digits number. Yes, I tested, it works as a IBAN/BBAN number: the money arrived!
_ BIC code: this is also called bank SWIFT code. A code identifying your bank, find it easily on Google. For ICBC Beijing, it is ICBKCNBJBJM.

Click click, the transfer is done. I was confused in filling IBAN/BBAN: my ICBC account doesn't support USD, and my VISA card... isn't an account, it's a card, so will its 16-digits number be accepted as such? As a test, I transferred a small amount of money (in USD) to both. Verdict: both methods work. I mean, you can:
_ Transfer USD to your ICBC "E-Age" account even if it doesn't claim to support USD.
_ Transfer USD to your ICBC VISA card directly!

As a result my ICBC account looked like this:



USD arrived directly on the VISA. If you transferred USD to your account, you need to transfer them using the "Forex" transfer option (ICBC website will give you a warning popup, don't worry).

After that the VISA card is accepted in my restaurant. When swiping the card, the waitress asked me whether to use "Visa" or "Visa Electron"... errh I don't know? It turned out only "Visa" works. Great anyway!

In China, things are not so difficult, they are different. And they don't speak English.