New Scam Has Arrived!

Congratulations to fraudsters, you've successfully to scam our citizens again with your new scam method!

Well, I have to say sorry to the victims, it just has too many ways to cheat people hard-earn money nowadays. So far I've heard and seen, or even experienced the following scams:
1. Africa wealth scam via Email
2. ATM card scam by recording your PIN number
3. ATM PIN number scam via SMS
4. Credit card scam via Email & phishing web site
5. Hong Kong jackpot scam via phone & SMS - This is the most stupid way but it worked effectively in Malaysia. Yes it is. I gave a thumb up to the scammers, for their brilliant acting skills over the phone conversation.
And now, what again?

Mobile phone is the most effective tool for scammer to con money.

It never going to finish I tell you, as long as there are still fishes around, I mean the market. Now, I would like to take the opportunity here to share with you the latest scam technique, so you'll be aware of it, and get rid of unnecessary surprise in the near future. That's the best thing Ekimkee can does for you now. As for scammers, don't hate me, I'm just trying to help my friends & readers here.

According to Malaysia's Central Bank, there is a latest scam reported recently. Perhaps you've knew about it, but it doesn't matter to revise it one more time, yeah? To have a better picture, I will explain the scam in a story and point form, as below:

Is it a history for ATM machine scam?

1. One day, Mr.Lee receive a call from a 'bank', inquiring if he had just conducted a transaction for goods via credit card.

2. When Mr.Lee answer in negative, the caller'll informs Mr.Lee in a concerned tone to call a commercial bank's officer with a given the number. (Yes, the scammers making the procedure more complicated now in order to gain your trust.)

3. Mr.lee immediately contacts the officer. And the one who picked up the phone is identifying himself as 'bank' officer. Mr.Lee tells him that he did not conduct the mentioned transaction and Mr.Lee does not have such credit card.

4. But he informs Mr.Lee that the transaction had been carried out according to the 'bank' record and that the credit card belongs to Mr.Lee!

5. He suggests Mr.lee to call Central Bank 'Credit Card Fraud Unit' and gives you the number. (What a lovely unit name thought by the scammers! It doesn't exist anyway.)

6. Mr.Lee then reaches an automated voice message service which says he has reached "Central Bank". Then someone picks up & identifies himself as 'officer'. He asks for Mr.Lee banking and credit card information so that he can lodge a complaint on Mr.Lee's behalf.

7. Without hestitate, Mr.lee gives the necessary details over the phone and the 'officer' assured that 'Central Bank' will look into his problem. The phone is hanged up right after that. (Brilliant, they got a easy business today.)

Scam school available soon, anyone?

So what do you think? In fact, this scam method is very difficult to con over people who are smart, educated, read newspapers daily, experienced in credit card & bank account, or working in the finance sector. But unfortunately the scammers are targeting niche market, such as those people who are greedy, and now they swifted to people who fear to get any trouble related to finance.

Well, it's relatively okay to be greedy just like me, or having fears on related issue. We are human beings and we are all learning from our lesson. To learn ahead of others, perhaps you can refer to the points below to avoid being scammed on related cases.

If these cards are continuously to create issue for us, why don't we just cancel them?

A. Do not respond to any request for PIN or Internet banking user credentials over the phone, fax, email or SMS.

B. Call your bank if you are not sure of the authenticity of a call, SMS or email. Don't be afraid to call and verify, please.

C. Always enter the web site address (URL) directly in your web browser. Avoid being redirected to the website or hyperlinked to it from an email or another website. Don't acting smart and try to be convenient for yourself about this step.

D. Ensure that you are in a secure website by checking the bank URLs to ensure that it begins with "https://'" instead of "http://'" and look for a display of a closed padlock symbol on the status bar of your web browser.

E. Ensure that you protect your personal computer from hackers, viruses and malicious programmes. Invest commercial Anti-Virus/Spyware and Internet Security if necessary.

Always remember, there is no free lunch in this world, and do think-twice and verify any matter related to your hard-earn money! Have a new good week ahead, folks!

Download Web Sites Offline Tool

This month, I used to visit an encyclopedia web site to study it's content. Basically the contents are fixed but there are a lot of them. So it will takes some time to complete the content of the web site, and to re-read them if necessary. Because the web site contents are so interesting, if the web site or content is being removed, I'll really regret that I didn't save them page by page.

Wait. Page by page? If there are 100 pages, then I have to save 100 times? I told myself it's a very stupid way to do so, but I never try to look around before this. Sometimes when I found an interesting web site, I would like to read it without online. But I don't think I can do so, unless I manage to find a tool to save the pages.

Screenshot of HTTrack tool.

When I look around, most of the good tools are commercial software, until I came across an offline web site copier, HTTrack. Basically this software allows us to download web site to our local hard disk, including html, images and other necessary files. After performed the download, you can browse the web site from your local hard disk, as you were viewing it online. And most importantly, it is a FREE software for us to use.

Another beauty of this software is that it supports multi-platforms, including Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP, Linux,Unix and BSD. Pretty cool huh? Apart from multi-platforms support, it also allow you to choose multiple languages to suit for your needs.

Please don't use this tool to download your porn web sites offline ok!

I have used it for 2 weeks and I'm satisfied with this free software so far. Now I can sit back and enjoy my encyclopedia web site offline. You may want to try it out if you're interested. But please watch out if there is any web site patent infringement. =)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review

Hah! It was a long time I have not write any review on movie. Hey, don't misunderstood that I have not visit cinema for long time. I did watch Fast & Furious 4, Knowing and Unborn lately. However, I didn't write a review on them, because they are just wasting my time. I don't meant they are not nice to watch, but these movies just unable to trigger my interest to write a review for them. See, human being is emotional, including writing movie review! Haha.

So what's so special about Wolverine? Well, if you're fans of X-men, or you've been chasing and watching X-men movie series, or you like hero & action movie, then this is the movie for you. To be honest, I like this kind of movie, because the ideas and technology are fresh, and perhaps no brain is required to enjoy this movie.

The poster design of Wolverine is really simple hah.

Basically this movie talks about the history of Wolverine from young before he joins the X-men team. And a lot of things happened between his brother, Victor, his girl friend Silver Fox, and his former boss, William Stryker. Well, for me the story itself is not really interesting, but the technology applied. I would say Wolverine does not disappointed me compared to the previous X-men series. I like the casting as well, especially Huge Jackman.

Here's my personal review on X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Cast: 7.5/10
Plot: 6/10
Effect: 8.5
Cinematography: 8/10
Action: 5.5/10
Story line: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5/10

Quite a few of fighting scenes can be found in Wolverine.

Go and watch Wolverine when you're free. To avoid missing the exciting scenes, do prepare not to go toilet in the cinema. See ya!

Different Culture, Different Big Deal

Just thought of something interesting when I saw a news from an online newspaper just now, and I think I really need to share with you about this. A couple of days ago, a Korean female news reporter was complaint by the public for taking a mirror in front of the live broadcast. This is interesting. What happened actually?

In fact, during that time, the news was broadcasting on another scene while the news reporter utilizing the free time to check her make up. Due to technical arrangement error, the scene turned back to the studio without the notice of the news reporter, until her colleague notified her.

News reporter: Oh no, a pimple pops up from my pretty face!

It looks like a very big deal for Korean media as well as the public. In my opinion, as a professional, I think she shouldn't do it and should be ready and on alert all the time. In the other hand, I don't understand why it is a big deal for Korean public to discuss and complaint aggressively about it.

Well, perhaps different culture built up different thinking and mindset. No problem, it's just like one of our minister's son womanizer video & pictures, it's like a hot cake for Malaysian once it is spreading out. It's a big deal for us but might be nothing for others.

Having fun #1

Having fun #2

What do you think?

My Opinion on Current M'sia Stock Market

Sorry for no update on last week, folks. I just came back from a business trip, and I enjoyed it very much. I promised I will reimbursed the missing part soonest. Anyway, it's good Friday on yesterday, and tomorrow it's Easter Sunday! Happy Easter Sunday to all my dear friends & colleagues folks here!

Well, it's good to see the global stock market has surged to few months high these few weeks, where every trader is making money, including myself. So far I managed to recover 60% of my previous lost in stock market due to overall economy recession. We always wish we can earn more especially during this hard period. But, will it (sorry, I'm just focusing on Malaysia stock market, KLCI here) continue to surge, perhaps the following weeks or months?

Most of the stock traders are aunties & uncles , because they are the richer than us.

I personally think it might continue to soar for another 1 or 2 weeks, but my answer is NO after the end of this month. To be honest, I wish it can soars continuously so I can recover my earlier lost soonest. However, in my opinion, there are 5 main reasons that convinced me the index might encounter pullback right after 1 or 2 weeks time.

Reason 1 - Recession still take place globally.
Overall recession is still ongoing, where most of the corporations are facing jobs cut, making loss, struggling, facing tough budget & bankrupt anytime etc. Even my respected Obama saying US economy is showing 'glimmers of hope'. Until now, we still conclude that, US down, we all down?

Economy life span chart, where are we now?

Reason 2 - Overseas projects dramatically reduced or cut.
We understand most of the giant corporations facing toughest time to obtain overseas projects. And some of them even facing awarded projects being cut off due to the country budget constraints. No project = no revenue = no profit = no stock rise. This is the real recession.

Reason 3 - Corporates earning to be announced by early of next month.
Due to reason 1 & 2, do you think they, especially on finance, industrial, construction & plantation section will still able to make profits like before? It should be good enough as long as they don't declare a loss!

Will there be any surprise for corporate earnings announcement day?

Reason 4 - Technical Analysis is yet to be in favor.
1. Moving Averages - KLCI continued to stay below its 200-day moving averages.
2. Momentum Index: Its short-term momentum index continued to stay below the support of its neutral reference line.
3. KLCI's envisaged resistance zone hovers at the 944 to 980 levels, while its immediate downside support is at the 904 to 938 levels on next week.
4. The bull level should be around stage 2 and everyone is waiting for a pullback now.

Stage 2, resistant level is about 20 points to go for KLCI.

Reason 5 - Lack of buying power
If you can see from most of the finance broker, most of the shares are changed from buy to neutral/sell ratings. And from most of the finance analysis opinions, the stock will pullback definitely within the few weeks time. If it is so, many buyers might still scared and don't dare to enter to the market yet. Since most of the aggressive buyers & early birds are already entered the market, so who else left will enter the market on next few weeks?

What if we have Mega Sale on shares too? I'm the 1st one to join!

So are you as a trader, agree with these 5 reasons? In fact, they are just my analysis outcomes & perspectives. The finance analysis and I unable to predict what will happen in the market, as we are only trying our best to study what the chart and price action told us. Once again, no one can predict the market. I'll just wait for the best time for me to enter in big hand by now.

If you think the shares now are pretty low and it's time to enter regardless any TA or FA, just go ahead with your best instinct and discretion! Most importantly, you know your risk, you'll know how much you'll gain. Good luck and do share you opinion if you have any!

Happy Easter Sunday once again! :)