webfact Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 AMLO orders California Wow's 88 million baht worth of land frozenBANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office has ordered the freezing of five land plots in Phang-nga province worth an estimated 88 million baht belonging to California Wow Experience Plc and its executives after they were faulted with public fraud.AMLO secretary-general Pol Col Sihanart Prayoonrat said Tuesday that the order was a result of intensive investigation by AMLO since June 2014 following request from the command for the suppression of offences related to consumers protection.He said that investigation had shown that the fitness chain had wired about 1,699 million baht of money from its bank accounts to individuals in and out of the country during 2000-2001 despite the fact that the company was experiencing financial trouble. The money transferred constituted 99 percent of financial transactions undertaken during the period, he added.California Wow Experience Plc headed by Mr Eric Mark Lerwin operated fitness business in 2000 until 2014 when the company folded up. The company which had several fitness studios promised its clients with adequate fitness equipments, trainers and other facilities.However, Pol Col Sihanart said the company eventually closed down some branches and advised its clients to use the facilities of those still in business causing congestion and discomfort for clients.This practice amounted to public fraud as the company failed to deliver the services as promised in its advertisements – an indication that the company has no intention from the beginning to serve its clients throughout the contractual periods,said the AMLO chief.Chasing the money trail of the fitness chain, he said money was transferred from the company’s bank accounts to Fitness Estate Company with Mr Eric MarkLerwin as the managing director for the purchase of five land plots in Phang-nga province.Later on, a board director was replaced by Latitude 43 company with Mr Eric as the beneficiary. Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147265 -- Thai PBS 2016-01-19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewlyMintedThai Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Levine. The name is Eric Levine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clockman Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Another scam merchant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewlyMintedThai Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Absolutely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdaz Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hope he rots in jail... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Shame the authorities can't / don't act as quickly and severely when it's a Thai company / individual doing dodgy business.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckBee Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 ^ just about type same. why government fraud & big thai corps not chased up to this investigation standard ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishoak Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? Edited January 19, 2016 by englishoak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrrizzla Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 ALMO - Damn you guys work very slow or very selectively. You have A LOT of work to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smutcakes Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Pity its about 5 years late and most of the money and persons involved are long gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prbkk Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 As I recall, the money went to the Cook Islands, so bugger all chance of getting it or him back. Funny how the ordinary guys have to jump through hoops to repatriate money but the shysters, crooks and scam artists do it without difficulty. Wonder how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prbkk Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? No, they made false declarations of losses and tried to hide the money by sending it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishoak Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? No, they made false declarations of losses and tried to hide the money by sending it out Still isnt a scam, its a gym not a ponzie scheme, so it was going pop and so what ? happens all the time.. And his partner was 100% Thai,although that seems to have been missed out in nearly all reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCruncher Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? No, they made false declarations of losses and tried to hide the money by sending it out Still isnt a scam, its a gym not a ponzie scheme, so it was going pop and so what ? happens all the time.. And his partner was 100% Thai,although that seems to have been missed out in nearly all reports Cawow was a scam, if they hadn't sent 1.6 Billion out of the country the gym would not have gone broke. Keep in mind that Thailand was not the only country where Levine played this scam. Edited January 19, 2016 by TheCruncher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishoak Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? No, they made false declarations of losses and tried to hide the money by sending it out Still isnt a scam, its a gym not a ponzie scheme, so it was going pop and so what ? happens all the time.. And his partner was 100% Thai,although that seems to have been missed out in nearly all reports Cawow was a scam, if they hadn't sent 1.6 Billion out of the country the gym would not have gone broke. Keep in mind that Thailand was not the only country where Divine played this scam. You mean like Thailands scam for stopping funds being taken out the country yet has no limit on bringing in ? Ya id noticed that. Nothing unusual about that kind of thing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talayjay Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 He was the darling of society. http://www.dmc.tv/pages/en/scoop/Eric-Levine-WoW.html Remember that bullshit wins in this country. Financial advisors, lawyers, monks/ religious speakers, charity workers and Eric Levine; they all fit in the same basket..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Pity its about 5 years late and most of the money and persons involved are long gone! The location at the esplanade chaengwattana is still not rented out to another company. It's been empty for many years. It sure was a scam, they tried to sell me a lifetime membership for 50.000 while my friend bought one for 20.000 some months before. I would get a free towell though which was needed because i saw all of them putting their feet/shoes on the seats. Edited January 19, 2016 by Thian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCruncher Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Pity its about 5 years late and most of the money and persons involved are long gone! The location at the esplanade chaengwattana is still not rented out to another company. It's been empty for many years. It sure was a scam, they tried to sell me a lifetime membership for 50.000 while my friend bought one for 20.000 some months before. I would get a free towell though which was needed because i saw all of them putting their feet/shoes on the seats. I paid 13K for lifetime full use at all branches, and got bag and 2 large towels for free. The branch at Avenue Pattaya is still not rented out, but I think that has to do with all tenants over there got a very long term lease at a very cheap one time payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzra Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 When I try to send couple of thousand of dollars overseas I'm being asked many questions and have to fill several request forms, so I guess when you send 1.6 billions out of the country, the rules are different.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewlyMintedThai Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 If you are a corporation all you need is an invoice to send money out. Simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckizuchinni Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Paid $7,000 baht for a "lifetime" membership,with 100 baht annual renewal fees. I got four years out of it, so it was money well spent. The equipment was pretty good in them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springheeled jack Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 writing a column like this you must get it right especially the names of the people involved the name mark eric lerwin is incorrect should read mark eric Levine . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robblok Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Pity its about 5 years late and most of the money and persons involved are long gone! The location at the esplanade chaengwattana is still not rented out to another company. It's been empty for many years. It sure was a scam, they tried to sell me a lifetime membership for 50.000 while my friend bought one for 20.000 some months before. I would get a free towell though which was needed because i saw all of them putting their feet/shoes on the seats. I paid 13K for lifetime full use at all branches, and got bag and 2 large towels for free. The branch at Avenue Pattaya is still not rented out, but I think that has to do with all tenants over there got a very long term lease at a very cheap one time payment. Paid 15k never expected it to last and got my moneys worth. So be it.. But it was a scam but I am not complaining. I knew it was going to fall when I bought into it (just figured if i got enough months of working out it would be ok and it was). But not everyone was that lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyFriend You Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Paid $7,000 baht for a "lifetime" membership,with 100 baht annual renewal fees. I got four years out of it, so it was money well spent. The equipment was pretty good in them as well. Is that 7000 USD?? When other people I know paid 20-35K Thai Baht for 'Lifetime memberships' You must have gotten the Double Diamond membership 'free massages with happy endings' for life just kidd'n it worked out to about $140 a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTIRIOS Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 ...doubt that he acted alone... ...how can 'a foreigner' (?) ever wire so much money out of Thailand..... ...is that his real name....or is it a Thai that changed his name....??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbalEd Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? It's a scam when hundreds of customers pay for services and then are left in the cold when the business shuts down. Especially when the owner remains very wealthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbalEd Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Not really a scam though was it ? just a business transferring funds out of the country, just wasnt Thai benefiting for a change No big a deal a few hiso lost their memberships. Is he in custody ? I think not, how about his Thai partner ? No, they made false declarations of losses and tried to hide the money by sending it out Still isnt a scam, its a gym not a ponzie scheme, so it was going pop and so what ? happens all the time.. And his partner was 100% Thai,although that seems to have been missed out in nearly all reports Yeah ... it's not a scam until "you" are the one who loses money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 1,699 million baht is that 1699 million baht? or 1.699 million? Yes i'm european . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCruncher Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 1,699 million baht is that 1699 million baht? or 1.699 million? Yes i'm european . No that is 1 Billion and six hundred ninety nine Million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewlyMintedThai Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 ...doubt that he acted alone... ...how can 'a foreigner' (?) ever wire so much money out of Thailand..... ...is that his real name....or is it a Thai that changed his name....??? A corporation can transfer money easily. And it was a public company, so it wasn't just the fitness club members he scammed -- it was the company's hundreds of shareholders, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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