In a half-page advertisement in newspapers across India, the controversial QNet has tried to disassociate itself from agents who it claims have indulged in mis-selling and misleading the public. It claims that 'stern legal action' has been initiated against such sellers, including its independent representatives. Will it work?
QNet, the controversial, Hong Kong-based multi-level marketing (MLM) operator with multiple names (GoldQuest, QuestNet, QNet, QI Ltd and QI group are the better known names), has now come up with half page advertisements in newspapers across the country, in an attempt to shift the blame on "unauthorised" persons that include its independent representatives. The company, which is embroiled in court cases under several laws, including the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act and has several officials arrested, is clearly trying to contain the damage to its reputation.
The Advertisement says Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt Ltd is its sub-franchisee. However it adds, "...some individuals, unauthorised by the company (and in some cases of Vihaan, notwithstanding their authorisation to represent the company), have been misrepresenting/ misleading the public while promoting the business, resulting in reputational loss to the company and loss of money in certain cases to innocent purchasers." The advertisement itself documents the kind of dubious business practices that have been going on it its name, when it proclaims. "The company DOES NOT - Solicit Investments, Take Deposits, Promise Fixed Returns, Sell Shares of the Company, Sell or offer jobs through intermediaries, offer any sub-franchisee opportunities".
The activities mentioned above fall foul of several regulators including the Reserve Bank of India (deposit taking) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This is in addition to the large number of complaints about the products that it sells, which are already under investigation.
According to reports, on Sunday, a team led by Jithendranath KN, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, has arrested six people, Avinash Shah, Nikunj Kumar, Ankith Kandel, Ankit Soni, Ashok Sharma and Rakesh Makkarlal for organising mass event in a marriage hall at Byappanahalli in Bengaluru for QNet. They also charged Rs2,500 each from the attendees for attending the MLM seminar, the report says.
The QNet advertisement, an act of self-protection, has probably been triggered by these arrests as well as rejection of anticipatory bail of five accused in the multi-crore scam by a special court in Mumbai. Last month, the special Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Court rejected anticipatory bail applications of Srinivas Rao Vanka and Magaral Veervalli Balaji, both directors of Vihaan Direct selling (India) Pvt Ltd, Suresh Thimiri, director of Transview Enterprises India Pvt Ltd, Malcolm Nozer Desai, who is 20% stakeholder in Vihaan and Michael Joseph Ferreira, former world champion of billiards and 80% stakeholder in Vihaan.
In 2007, APLI, the direct selling Association of Indonesia, considered GoldQuest or QuestNet as a pyramid scheme.
Coming back to QNet, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, which is probing the case, had invoked the stringent MPID Act against controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) company QNet, which has denied any wrongdoing on its part.
In the advertisement, published in newspapers, QNet claims that it, through Vihaan, "compensates its independent representatives (IRs) through whom the sale is facilitated, on the basis of 'products' only."
One of the products being marketed by the company is the Amezcua Bio Disc (also spelled BioDisc and BioDisk) which the company claims can "redefine and harmonise the energy of water, greatly maximising its positive affect on the human body". These and other detailed claims of often miraculous properties have been widely denounced as fraudulent by various scientists, media commentators and watchdog organisations. Critics have noted that the claims are based on thoroughly debunked pseudoscientific concepts such as hexagonal water and that they have never been validated by a peer-reviewed process.
In India, QNet's MLM operations were controlled by QuestNet Enterprises (India) Pvt Ltd, a company registered at Chennai till 13 April 2012. From next day, it shifted all its registered agents, database and business to Vihaan Direct Selling Pvt Ltd, company registered in Bengaluru.
The EOW had booked several accused including the former world champion of billiards and five companies related with QNet, under the MPID Act. This means all the cases against QNet, Vihaan and all those involved in the MLM scam would be heard before the special MPID Court. Until now, the accused were being investigated for cheating and forgery under the Prize, Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act 1978, and for money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
In February 2014, the ED registered a case under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) against QNet, Vihaan Direct Selling, Ferreira and QNet founder Vijay Eswaran and three other independent representatives (IRs) of the MLM operator.
Gurupreet Singh Anand, a computer consultant from Lokhandawala, Andheri in his first information report (FIR) stated that his wife was duped for Rs30,000 by some people who had introduced themselves as the independent representatives (IRs) of QNet. Anand told the police, "They (IRs) had said that one of the bio-products my wife bought could be used to treat my 12-year-old son's brain-related diseases."
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I have been trapped by one college freind Amit Keyal ,from Calcutta University, who had once been a good friend and kind of a guide as well. I trusted him since college and respected him as I thought him to be a simple good man. But I am so mistaken as I released last year when he forced (by lying and showing confidence in him saying he is always there) me to pay him almost 2 Lakhs (I took a loan to give him that money) which he said he would give me back if I am not able to continue the so called e-commerce business (Qnet). Nothing was explained before the payment was made. all details about how the company works and what do i have to do are told after I was already trapped and had no other way but to follow what they say. They ask you to make friends and tell them that I m into a mind blowing business and henceforth trap the victim. I chose not to cheat people. My money is lost because since then I have called and messaged that so called businessman (traitor) numerous times but in vain and now after an year I have almost lost all hope of getting back my money .
But I m happy that I didn't turn into one of those kinds going around cheating my own friends and family.
There are many people making a lot of money out of this totally fraud MLM company. There are other MLM companies as well but they are ethical as they agree to that fact and reveal what a member has to do before trapping someone.
I Can provide Some Contact details hereunder:
Q Net Association in Kolkata and all over world.
Sl.No. Name Mobile No. Mobile No.
22 Amit Keyal +971-566584028
4 Ashish +977-9802036176
1 Avinash +91-9330958969
2 Dayanad Mittal +91-9920350221
8 Deepak Kankani +91-9830783316
20 Hemant Surana +91-8697540123
18 Murtazir Nazar +91-9051061879
13 Nishant Gupta +91-9860779185
19 Saru +91-9830235419
21 Shyam Chaudhry +91-7506226543 +91-9930136801
3 +91-8092084462
5 +91-9980096781
6 +91-8100058258
7 +91-8951174594
9 +977-9845096260
10 +91-9376518122
11 +61-411895943
12 +971-557703213
14 +91-9930761147
15 +91-9167780347
16 +91-9836331256
17 +91-9038082570
18 Babita Agarwal+91-9635276465
We have been receiving hundreds of enquiries from QNET VICTIMS across India asking on how to join the FINANCIAL FRAUDS VICTIMS WELFARE ASSOCIATION (FFVWA) which is fighting for the LEGAL RIGHTS of the QNET SCAM VICTIMS in SUPREME COURT of India. You can contact us on WHATSAPP on 9137721819 .
Congratulations to all FFVWA on our major mile stone and success in Supreme Court of India.
Before proceeding further I would like to mention that we are contactable on WHATSAPP on 9137721819 and victims can contact me on Whatsapp on this number only as my two phones were stolen in Delhi and my main number 7498053701 could not be recovered.
A brief summary on the need for forming the FFVWA is summarised in the two news stories below:
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/qnet-forms-financial-fraud-victims-forum-scam-gurupreet-singh-anand/17659179
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/victims-of-fraud-unite-to-catch-qnet-scamsters/19309192
As you are aware we have successfully fought the best criminal lawyers appearing for QNET SCAM till date including lawyers like Kapil Sibbal, Salman Kurshid, Mahesh Jhetmalani, Abaad Ponda…the list is long. The fight is being fought on LEGAL GROUNDS with good FACTS and DATA. The fight has not been easy and but each and every court that I have appeared and argued my case In-Person I have won inspite of BIG MONEY POWER/PRESSURES etc from the QNET SCAM supporters.
You can become part of our organisation FINANCIAL FRAUDS VICTIMS WELFARE ASSOCIATION (FFVWA) which is fighting for the LEGAL RIGHTS of the QNET SCAM VICTIMS in SUPREME COURT of India by downloading the membership form from
DropBox at
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2piy8eudhlz3oj6/FFVWA%20Membership%20Form.pdf?dl=0
and filing it properly and sending it across by courier to:
Anuja Kotecha (Joint Secretary)
Flat no 701, Nazreth Niketan,
Charath Singh Colony, Behind Dragon Fly Hotel,
Andheri-east, Mumbai: 400093
After having completed the form please take snapshots of the same and whatsapp to us on 9137721819.
Please beware there are no short cuts to refund, stay away from individuals who promise you refunds illegally using various tactics. Stay united and fight for your rights LEGALLY.
Regards
Gurupreet Singh Anand
Anuja Kotecha & FFVWA
Dont REGRET later if you miss this meeting, for which we are taking special efforts.
Please gather tomorrow i.e Sunday 23rd of July 2017 sharp 11AM at Sudarshan 35MM, RTC Cross Road, CHIKKADPALLI, HYDERABAD..
For answers to your questions
Ever since you lost your hard earned money in QNET SCAM, you all have multiple questions and facing multiple issues like:
1. Where and whom to approach for recovering your hard earned money?
2. How to help fight and stop this QNET SCAM?
3. How to teach your CHEATER UPLINES a lesson?
4. Issues regarding the “so called†“REFUND POLICYâ€.
5. Are you eligible for “Compensations�
6. Issues regarding action by police authorities.
7. What is the status of the court cases etc
These are an example of just a few issues and concerns you are facing, but there is GOOD NEWS for you all. We have been working overtime to try and bring an end to these woes and issues faced by Victims of Financial Frauds like this QNETSCAM.
So guys and girls coming Sunday i.e 23rd of July 2017 is the BIG DAY finally , Please do join us at 11AM at the above mentioned address and the location is also attached here with.
Please do come and also inform other victims of the QNETSCAM in Hyderabad, Telangana and Andra Pradesh.
For details WhatsApp me on 7498063701 or call on +918978700018 and speak to Mr. Raghav.
Please pass this important message on all WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Twitter etc so all victims of QNETSCAM in Hyderabad and around can attend.
Those who are attending please confirm in advance as we have limited capacity onlyðŸ™
Jai Hind
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the city police arrested a woman in her early 30s on Thursday for her active involvement in the multi-crore QNet scam. The total number of arrested accused has now reached 47, which includes Billiards champion and Padma Bhushan recipient Michael Ferreira.
In the Rs 1,000-crore scam of Hong Kong-based company QNet, nearly 5 lakh investors across the country were duped. QNet has been accused of using the banned binary pyramid business model for its multi-level marketing schemes to lure investors.
QNet posed as a marketing firm selling bio-discs, watches, herbal products, holiday packages, etc. It also claimed that by using the bio-disc, one could cure cancer and brain diseases, the police said.
Too much baggage
Accused Aditi Mitra was intercepted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, and subsequently, arrested based on the lookout circular that had been issued against her.
Assistant commissioner of police Arun Jadhav confirmed her arrest said she was sent to police custody till March 23.
Mitra was allegedly trying to flee to Dubai for good. She was carrying eight big bags and two handbags. Of the eight, two contained her belongings; she refused to say what was in the other six, sources said.
Mitra, an independent representative associated with QNet, had been getting hefty commissions in return. She has multiple bank accounts, with one alone having Rs 25 lakh, as EOW officials found, adding that all her bank accounts have been frozen.
Active player
Investigators found that on the instructions of the other accused, Mitra was actively involved in the scam. She had brainwashed victims in order to induce them to invest in the scheme,†said special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat.
A victim, Sewri resident Arpita Majarekar, said, “She would conduct welcome sessions in malls and trap people with her sweet talk.
She had promised me and many others that if we invested in the scheme, we would get double the amount in three years.†Majarekar, who works in a private firm in Andheri, had invested nearly Rs 12.5 lakh in the scheme through Mitra.
She has been booked under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, Prize, Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, and the Indian Penal Code.
Ever since you lost your hard earned money in QNET SCAM, you all have multiple questions and facing multiple issues like :
1. Where and whom to approach for recovering your hard earned money?
2. How to help fight and stop this QNET SCAM?
3. How to teach your CHEATER UPLINES a lesson?
4. Issues regarding the “so called†“REFUND POLICYâ€.
5. Are you eligible for “Compensations�
6. Issues regarding action buy police authorities.
7. What is the status of the court cases etc.
These are an example of just a few issues and concerns you are facing, but there is GOOD NEWS for you all. We have been working overtime to try and bring an end to these woes and issues faced by Victims of Financial Frauds like this QNETSCAM.
So guys and girls tomorrow is the BIG DAY finally , Please do join us tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at 1.30 PM sharp at Andheri east, outside Sarangi Restaurant (Just 1 minute from the Andheri station on the east side).
Please do come and also inform other victims of the QNETSCAM.
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon sharp 1.30 PM, outside Sarangi Restaurant , Andheri-east, Mumbai.
Please note we have limited seats, first come first served basis allotment..so make sure to reach in time __/\__ . You can contact on 7498063701 in case of difficulty in locating us :)
Jai Hind.
Four persons, who were associated with Hong Kong-based QNET, a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, and duped 200 persons by promising them jobs, were arrested by Central Crime Station (CCS) officials on Thursday. However, the MD and directors of QNET and its sister company Vihaan Direct Selling are still at large.
Deputy commissioner of police (CCS) Avinash Mohanty said Sreenath Konda, Prasanna Kumar Reddy, V Kanchana, B Dhan Raj were arrested from different locations in the city for cheating people.
Police said the accused had been enrolling gullible people as agents by collecting Rs 10 lakh from a group of 10 persons.
Each person would be given status of promoter, direct them to attract a group (i.e., 10 persons) and make them join QNET by paying Rs 10 lakh, for which the promoter would be assured commission.
Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra Government to file the latest status report regarding investigation so far on the anticipatory bail plea of World Billiards champion Michael Ferreira and four others, who are facing charges of money laundering in the multi-crore QNet case.
The next hearing in the matter will take place on September 14.
Besides Ferreira, the others whose anticipatory bail plea were rejected were Malcom Desai, Vanka Srinivas, Maganlal Balaji, all directors of M/s Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt. Ltd, and Suresh Themiri, director of Transview Enterprises.
They are facing charges under Sections 420 (mischief), 468 (forgery), 471 (using forged document knowing it is not genuine) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Justice Mridula Bhatkar of the Bombay High Court, who took on record the statement of public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat that investigations were still on, had in May rejected their anticipatory bail pleas.
Ferreira had started the operations of QNet, a multi-level marketing company, in India via his firm Vihaan Enteprises.
The QNet cheating case began with a complaint by Gurpreet Singh Anand, who raised his voice after losing Rs. 30,000.
According to the police, the money involved has crossed Rs. 1,000 crores in the alleged scam with more than five lakh investors allegedly losing their money in the case against QNet which is being probed by the Economic Offences Wing.
ANI
..i was stupid enough to invest another 8 lakhs or so but eventually got the latter 8 lakhs back..
They are operating in chandigarh and clearly misguided.........have no values left in them......and will keep on cheating more people unless our government does something about it.....
Clearly since top brass like congress ex fins e minister and their families were safeguarding their interest.....
..the present government must set an example..
NewsAmbit, New Delhi
Delhi Police Economic Offence Wing(EOW) has registered an FIR against QNET India/Vihaan Direct selling India Private Limited and its three independent representatives on the allegations of cheating and fraudulently operating the multi level marketing, which is illegal in India. Police have initiated the investigation and suspecting huge scam, which is estimated in crores.
A senior Police officer of EOW said that we received a combined complaint against QNET India and its three independent representatives from more than dozen of people in the month of March this year. As per the allegations of main complainant Anuj Jain alleged that his friend Himashu Aggarwal approached him for an business opportunity. He said that he is an independent representative(IR) of an e-commerce based company. He said that he can arrange an meeting with the other IR’s who will tell you about the business and if they find you suitable you will get chance to be a part of the company. After few days Himanshu called Anuj Jain to come with a CV at a café situated in Nehru Place area on 29 November 2015. Anuj reached there, where he met with Himanshu and his to associates Anita Jaggi and Kanika. Trio told him about the business profile and also assured that this is not a networking marketing company. They demanded Rs 6.5 lakh to be a member of the company. They also said that company has millions of customers. IR of the company is treated as a partner and also got the profit share for each sale. After three four days Anuj gave them 6.5 lakh rupees but after some time he got to know that this is a multi level marketing company and fraudulently cheating innocent persons by roping them in it’s banned business with the help of IRs.
Police said that Anuj is not the only complainant so many more complainants also approached to EOW. After which a preliminary enquiry had conducted. It was found that some persons who are termed as IR contact their friends and close persons to join a new e-commerce business. They don’t tell the name of the company or complete business module at the beginning. After alluring them they set various amounts from the victim. Independent Representatives(IR) get training during the joining and talk to make further members. These kinds of IRs of the company are operated from different cafes and food courts situated in Delhi and NCR.
Those who join the company get user id etc and products like ravel packages, some other items etc are shown purchase from their money. The delivery address given in the portal is also found of overseas area most of the time and mostly that address is too fake type location only which shows that no products are being sold and it is a completely a money circulation scheme. Two websites were found involved in the namely www.unetindia.in and www.cmetindia.net were found mated to Vihaan Direct selling (India) Pvt ltd which is stated Indian Franchisee of Hong Kong based net company. Investigations are on. Police are trying to unearth the whole network of the IRs on which this company is running its business unlawfully in Delhi. A case has been registered u/s 420/120B/34 IPC and 4/5/6 of Prize Chits and money circulation Schemes(Banning) Act,1978 .
Profiles of IRs
Himashu works with Samsung
Anita Jaggi works with RBS
After receiving the complaint from a group of people, the central crime station is now investigating the scam.
Company officials asked them to pay around Rs 1 lakh as charges for registration, investment and training fee. (Representational image)
Company officials asked them to pay around Rs 1 lakh as charges for registration, investment and training fee. (Representational image)
Hyderabad: A new multi-level marketing scam (MLM) has surfaced in Hyderabad with around a 100 victims losing money in the controversial QNet scheme.
Several people have come out alleging that they have lost lakhs in the dubious scheme and has demanded arrest of the managers, who have fled with crores.
After receiving the complaint from a group of people, the central crime station is now investigating the scam. The Singapore-based QNet Private Ltd had already run into trouble with the law in Bengaluru and Mumbai police due to the same scam.
The victims, mostly fresh graduates and college dropouts, alleged that they were lured by some people claiming to be company officials who offered them a high salary and commission to do ‘e-commerce’ for QNet products.
Company officials asked them to pay around Rs 1 lakh as charges for registration, investment and training fee. However, the QNet officials neither provided them any job nor gave back their money even after a year.
After several complaints poured into S.R. Nagar police station cops found out that a QNet office was operating in Ameerpet, where most of the victims had paid their money. An FIR was registered in S.R. Nagar police station against company officials and later it was transferred to CCS.
“A person named Ramesh Kurmetti and his associates run the firm. He and others had been avoiding us for the last one year whenever we asked our money back,†said P. Vishwa Teja, one of the victims from Ameerpet.
The youngsters came to know about the company through Facebook and by word of mouth. “We were told that we will be getting around Rs 30,000 as salary as we add more customers and agents into the scheme. They asked us to get trained and promised that we would be selling their products like Bio Disc, Bio Light etc. However, nothing of that sort has happened so far,†said another victim M. Avinash.
Many people have paid Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh while some paid Rs 1 lakh. The company officials had promised their commission would be higher according to the investment they put in.
While it is yet to be calculated how much money has been looted by the company officials victims claim that it would be around Rs 5 to Rs 8 crore.
Meanwhile, the police has not made any arrest so far in the case.
“We had registered a case after taking the complaint. Since it was an economic offence with a lot of money involved the case was transferred to CCS,†said S.R. Nagar inspector Md. Waheeduddin.
Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested Ram Singh, an accused in the Rs 1,000 crore QNet case, for earning Rs 50 lakh or more as commission each year from proceeds of the crime.
Singh, a Bengaluru resident, was arrested last week after the imigration authorities at Bangalore airport detained him over a look out circular notice (LOC) issued by the Mumbai police. "We are going through all his bank account details and trying to ascertain the source of money to his account," said DCP Pravin Padwal of the EOW.
Singh's name had cropped up during the initial investigation in 2013 but the police could not locate him then. In January 2015, a police team visited his Bengaluru residence but did not find him there. The house was locked. He is the 19th accused to be arrested in this case so far.
"We are working to arrest all the culprits in this case. A special investigation team has been formed to nab the othe accused invovled," said Dhananjay Kamalakar, joint police commissioner, EOW. Singh, said police sources, has been sending money to his daughter who is studying in Canada. "We have to know his source of income. He has sent a major chunk of money to Canada. We suspect this money was gained from QNet. Moreover, he was looking after the QNet business in Dubai and has been shuttling between Dubai and India. We got his passport number late. Soon after getting it, we issued an LOC notice and he was detained," said an officer.
A special MPIDA court in February this year rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Michael Ferreira (77) winner of the World Amateur Billiards Championship and a Padma Bhushan recipient, and four others, Malcom Desai, Vanka Srinivas, Maganlal Balaji, all directors of M/s Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt Ltd and Suresh Themiri, director Transview Enterprises. They all have approached the high court now in the QNet case.
"They posed as a marketing firm which would sell bio-discs, watches, herbal products, holiday packages, etc. They even claimed that by using the bio-disc, one can cure cancer and brain diseases," cops said. Some money has been transferred to Malayasia, Singapore and Hong Kong, too, cops added.
Mumbai: The city's economic offences wing (EOW) is now looking into allegations that several Bollywood celebrities campaigned for the cheat firm, QNet, through advetisements or by promoting the schemes of the self-proclaimed marketing firm.
Gurupreet Singh Anand, complainant in the Rs 1,000-crore QNet cheating case, on Wednesday said at least four Bollywood actors promoted the Ponzi schemes at different times in the QNet's promotional programs in United Kingdom and Malaysia. He has submitted a 23-page letter wherein he has attached the celebrities' pictures promoting the programs.
"I have submitted letter and all the relevant information to the EOW on May 12. I am hoping some action soon," Anand told TOI. He alleged that the money was laundered from India to Hong Kong and Malaysia.
Anand was speaking at a press conference where suddenly a group of QNet sympathisers appeared with "I trust QNet" placards.. They were later asked to leave the conference room.
Read article http://www.moneylife.in//article/qnet-secret-sfio-report-says-mlm-ponzi-schemes-and-lsquo-a-threat-to-national-security-and-rsquo/46817.html
The company Qnet is celebrating VCon from 3-7 May. As a present,yesterday late night, I posted lot of comments on numerous pics uploaded on Instagram. I also posted on VChief Pathmans account. Unfortunately, they kept deleting my posts and had to ultimately block me. If each one of us, Indians, takes to instagram and starts posting messages like me, then they would have to either block us or abandon their account, which is their money making tool. You can start with Qnetofficial,TheV, Pathmans account, etc with phrases like Pyramid Scheme, Qnetscam, Franchise Fraud, Police arrests, court cases,Cheating, etc. They cannot stop us if we all work as one unit.
Hope we all teach them a lesson and save other fellow Indians.
Jai Hind