I received an email from Sheikh Abdul Rahman Khalid Bin Mahfouz, Chairman Capital Investment Holding Company, Bahrain indicating interest in investing in my venture. I replied with a standard response that I welcomed investors but could not pay front fees, expenses, and deposits. Sheikh Bin Mahfouz responded that he sought no front money at which point I became interested.
Everything checked out. The website had been up for many years. The email address on the website checked with the email address the Sheikh used. We then traded numerous emails with the Sheikh asking intelligent questions and my answering with over a month off for Ramadan. Finanlly, we signed an MOU which served as a funding agreement. I was instruced to call Sarah Hijjawi, Assistant Controller (whose name and association shou up on LinkedIn). Sarah informed me that I must pay for a Bahrain Investment Certificate before I would receive funding.
The cost was $6,550 which I did not have.
I did considerable soul searching. I had never had a good outcome from front money. But, everything seemed to check out and the Sheikh mentioned trouble his family had in falsely being accused of aiding terrorists earlier and that all investment wiould be through a Saudi Investment Regulartory Agency. I talked myself into borrowing the money and paying the fee which went to Alexis Shepherd, a Capital Investment Holding employee, in Cork Ireland after I called Shepherd and talked with him at the indicated telephone number.
I thought about checking the Sheikh and Capiital Investment Holding on Ripoff Report and did not follow through. In reading this rep;ort, you have saved yourself from making my mistake.
Alexis Shepherd duly transfered the first month funding to my account and sent a copy of the wire transfer on Monday, October 20, 2014. Nest day, i received an email from Jeremy Cogan, Lead Insurance Specialist On & Behalf of Capital Investment Credit Insurance, informing me that he had put a hold on the wire transfer. I must now pay investment insurance fee and cited the funding agreement which has no provision that I take out investment insurance or purchase an investment ceritificate.
Mass-mail messages used in scams:
From Godwin Puthiri
Return-Path: <info@tabholding.com>
Subject: Finance/Loan For Your Business/Company/Project
From: Godwin Puthiri <info@tabholding.com>
Organization: Taib Group
Reply-To: puthiri@taibholding.com
X-Sender: info@tabholding.com
Hello,
I hope your are doing great.
We are interested to invest in your company at %3 Interest kindly get
back to me for more details.
With Kind Regards
Godwin Puthiri
Head of Investment Consultant
Taib Investment Group
Dear friend,
Hope you are doing good.
I am a retired banker, currently working as a business consultant.
By virtue of my past working experience, I have contacts to high net worth Individuals and Investment firms in need to place funds into different projects to generate profits.
Now, the funding would be provided as a soft loan at 3% Return on Investment (ROI) with minimal documentations required to complete the funding modalities.
Also, 1% commission is paid to the Intermediary/Agent/Broker who introduce project owners for finance.
Indicate your interest for additional information.
I anticipate your reply.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Mauss
Investment Consultant
Tel: +973 1619 6237
The scam is about investment scams - a loan with a small interest rate invested in the victims company or allowing the victim to start a business. For getting the money, the victim will be asked to pay fees.
The company online presentation:
STAIB HOLDING COMPANY is a leading professional textile care and dry-cleaning company. TAIB HOLDING COMPANY was founded to recreate and remodel the Textile care industry. Over the past 5 (Five) years, we have demonstrated deep passion and desire in this direction. We have systematically created a fast growing brand with community follower-ship. Our services are bespoke and delivered in a warm and classy environment... TAIB HOLDING COMPANY provides a specialist range of financial services which include Investment Banking, Stock Broking, Wealth Management, Financial Advisory and Capital raising services to Governments, corporations, individual investors and their businesses.... Taib Holding Company focuses on investments that allow for the creation of synergies within its investment universe, while also leading to the rise of long-term strategic alliances with international players that have solid track records and well-known branded products..
TAIB Tower Road 1702 Diplomatic Area 20485 Manama Bahrain
www. taibholding.com +973-1619-6237
+97316196237
Number billable as geographic number
Country or destination Bahrain
City or exchange location Manama
The initial fake site used is scam is suspended now.
Fake site details - http://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=115801:
omain Name: TAIBHOLDING.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1886285255_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Updated Date: 2016-08-16T23:44:35Z
Creation Date: 2014-11-20T14:44:50Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2016-11-20T14:44:50Z
Registrar: PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com
Registrant details:
Registrant Organization: TAIB
Registrant Street: Road 1702
Registrant City: Manama
Registrant State/Province: Al Manamah
Registrant Postal Code: 20485
Registrant Country: BH
Registrant Phone: +973.17549905
Registrant Email: guxisakes@alivance.com
