euro-cig.com Fraud Alert

[Laura]

Just wanted to report I got ripped off by these people. I'll post the exchanges later. But warning: do NOT deal with euro-cig.com or any of its affiliates or spin-offs.

 

[eagles fly free]

Laura,

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago and i am sure you heard the news that buying cigs and alcohool products over the net for cross-country consumption does not fall under the same category as me visiting france and on my return bring them with me...

I just hope that that decision that was quite well published here will deter people using that kind of services over the net because one way or the other they will end up either being ripped off or pay more than they hoped for.

 

[Laura]

Well, what is really bizarre about this is that when I went to my bank to do the chargeback, the bank said that the other party claimed that I had made the purchase IN PERSON. Well, since I hadn't left the vicinity around my home in months, that was patently absurd.

So, the bank said that it was then credit card fraud, so I had to file a police report. I went to the police, and they said that I had to claim a stolen card and stop the card and bring the paper from the bank showing I had done this. So, there it was, back and forth. I still haven't decided what to do other than to fill out reports on all the various fraud websites so that the word will get around that people ought not to do business with these scam artists.

 

[domi]

Well, what is really bizarre about this is that when I went to my bank to do the chargeback, the bank said that the other party claimed that I had made the purchase IN PERSON. Well, since I hadn't left the vicinity around my home in months, that was patently absurd.

It is even more absurd if you consider that they (claim they) are in the Dutch Antilles:

eWinPay Ltd
no. 120 Port Road-St. Jean- Saint Barths-Netherland Antilles.

 

[name]

i hope they didn't screw you out of too much money.

the server - 194.117.236.153 - is apparently located in romania.
domain info is here: http://whois.domaintools.com/euro-cig.com

since romania is eager to get into the EU i'd think that the authorities there
will want to show themselves helpful in solving cases of fraud commited
from their jurisdiction.

also, writing to their affiliates (see website) should help put some pressure
on them.

 

[Laura]

Well, just so ya'll will have a good idea of how they handled the situation, here is the series of emails.

Background: I had placed one order and it arrived, though it took FOREVER. I had complained about this, but they responded that it was a "mail service" problem, and not on their side. So, when I was ready to place the second order I wrote as follows:

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: claudia@euro-cig.com
Subject: Euro-Cig.com future orders
Date sent: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 12:04:32 +0100


Hi,

My order of 6 cartons of Mores finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. I've
been so busy I forgot to report this at the time.

I noticed that the postmark on the package was February 9 and the order was
placed on January 22nd. That is over two weeks delay from placing the order
to shipping. I realize this might be because the brand is not in stock.
However, I would like to place another order and, in fact, possibly have a
"standing order", or at least an awareness that I will place orders
regularly on a cyclical basis.

Our neighbor, who recommended you to us, says that his orders always arrive
within two weeks of placing the order. Is it possible to do this with my
orders, knowing the brand in advance, and ensuring that it is in stock?

I will go ahead and place the order now and ask you to please look for it
and let me know the possible delays so that I can plan accordingly.

Thank you.

Laura Knight-Jadczyk

I placed the order for 10 cartons, buying for FIVE people.

Date sent: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 05:50:49 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Re: Euro-Cig.com future orders
From: claudia@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"

Hello Mrs. Laura,
thank you for your feed back.
We know this problem about delay in shipment ( More ara available in stock).
The problems is that Euro-cig.com is a part of All-gifts Group and we sell
on the net with about 27 sites and now our mabegement will put on Internet
another 30 sites, so we are the first group selling cigarettes in Europa
and the No. 9 in USA; our sales are about USD 2 mio monthly.
Our fast growing up compell us to employe other persons because we have
much much work.Now our 20 employes sincerely are tired and also us of this
call center, much work and a few employers.But this is our problem.
I can assure you your will receive your cigarettes during two/three weeks,
I will ask to ship prioritly to you.
You can place your cyclic order without any type of problem, if you like
we can instruct our card processor that know your card details to debit
you every ???? days and we ship periodically, or you can order directly on
our site. Let us know how you like.
We are here at your disposal.

Please, note that minimum order is no. 3 cartons but if you buy a large
quantity and we ship periodically we can apply you a discount.


Have a nice day.
Visit our site http://Fragrance.euro-cig.com
Feel free to contact us anytime. Assuring you the best service at all times!
Please don't delete the email history, and please provide your full
name.This way we can help you faster. Thank you.
With regards.
Claudia
Shipping Dept.
claudia@euro-cig.com

One month later:

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: claudia@euro-cig.com
Subject: Re: Euro-Cig.com future orders
Date sent: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:00:23 +0200



Hello Claudia,

I placed the order on the 14th of Mar and it is now the 12th of April and it
still has not arrived.

Can you look into this and see what the date of shipment was so that I have
an idea of ETA?

Thanks,

Laura Knight-Jadczyk

Response:

Date sent: Thu, 13 Apr 2006 15:38:35 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Re: Euro-Cig.com future orders
From: claudia@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"

Hello Mrs. Laura,

I strongly believe that your order will arrive in any moment by now.

Have a nice day.
Feel free to contact us anytime. Assuring you the best service at all times!
Please don't delete the email history, and please provide your full
name.This way we can help you faster.
Thank you.
With regards.
Claudia Shipping Dept.
claudia@euro-cig.com

Over a week later...

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: claudia@euro-cig.com
Subject: Re: Euro-Cig.com future orders
Date sent: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 11:25:14 +0200


Hi,

It still has not arrived.

It is now over 5 weeks.

L. K-J

Response (I'm going to highlight a certain part of this one):

Date sent: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 10:49:17 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Re: Monitoring
From: info@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"
Hello Mrs./Miss Laura,

we have regularly shipped your parcels by France Post and you will receive
your remaining cartons. Sometime can happen a little delay depending from
our postal office and from your postal service. You are a good customer
for us and i will explain you more.

Can happen that electronic machines of postal office don't read in
automatic the address, then parcels remain in the post warehouse waiting
an employe verifing manually it and ship. Can happen, also, parcels arrive
in Amsterdam, from where all parcels are addressed to all european
Countries, but parcels remain there some days before to be worked. Please,
consider we ship from Netherland Antilles , French and Deutsche land, our
parcels arrive by air to Amsterdam where are shipped to European
Countries.

Our little isle is divided in two parts : france and deutsche
lands, we have a situation very particular but here our isle, located in
Caraibi, is a very nice place, only problem people don't work much where
is the sun during all the day.

Now, by us is low season and we have only two weekly flights to Europe,
against the three flights of high season. Our management is working hard
with French and Deutsche Post to have guaranteed and average delivery time
of three weeks. Our interest is that our parcels arrive to our Clients as
soon is possible, in this way the Client order again. Please, take note of
our average delivery time in ordering with us.
Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Have a nice day.
Feel free to contact us anytime. Assuring you the best service at all times!
Please don't delete the email history, and please provide your full name.
This way we can help you faster. Thank you.
With regards
Tamara
info@euro-cig.com

Another whole month went by!!!!!

I then went to the site and filled in a feedback/complaint form. I received the following which was obviously and automated response:

To: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
Subject: Euro-cig.com - Feedback
From: claudia@euro-cig.com
Send reply to: claudia@euro-cig.com
Date sent: Tue, 16 May 2006 05:33:07 -0500


Bonjour,
Notre base de dates nous informe sur l'ouverture de votre compte sur www.euro-cig.com. Merci!

Le manque d'achats peut dependre de beaucoup de facteurs:
1. Peu de confiance dans les achats sur l'Internet - nous sommes un site atteste NetIBA et donc, nous offrons les meilleures garanties; nous sommes un site atteste SSL securise.
2.L'insecurite pour recevoir des marchandises - nous offrons, dans ce cas-ci, le remboursement au 100% et d'ailleurs la marchandise en vente sur notre site beneficie d'une assurance qui couvre les risques de la livraison manquee;
3. Les problemes avec la douane - les lois internationales permettent l'achat d'uneu cartouche par jour et par adresse postale.
4. Le manque d'une carte bancaire-dans ce cas-ci il suffit d'acquerir una carte bancaire pre-payee.
5. Nos cigarettes sont orginales made in France, U.K., USA.

Les problemes avec! nos systemes de paiement-nous vous prions de faire attention au moment ou vous completez votres les informations qu'ils vous demandent,elles doivent etre correctes et exactes.
Si pour n'importe quelle raison vous n'avez pas acheter de chez nous, s'il vous plait, envoyez-nous un email, cela nous aidera beaucoup quant a l'ameliorationde nos services. L'adresse d'e-mail ou nos clients peuvent ecrire : claudia@euro-cig.com est toujours disponible a repondre a votres demandes 24 h sur 24.


Continuez a visiter notre site pour decouvrir nos offres fabuleuses! Visitez euro-cig.com pour decouvrir aussi les offres que nous faisons pour vos cigarettes preferees. Pour euro-cig.com, vos questions et vos preoccupations sont tres importantes. N'hesitez pas a nous contacter pour n'importe quel probleme! Nous sommes toujours a votre disposition!
Cordialement,
Shipping Dept.
claudia@euro-cig.com

I responded:

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: claudia@euro-cig.com
Subject: Re: Euro-cig.com - Feedback
Date sent: Tue, 16 May 2006 12:44:39 +0200



Hi,
Could you please write in English since I don't speak French.

Since my order still has not been completed after 2 months, today I will be requesting a chargeback from my bank.

Thanks
Laura Knight-Jadczyk

I waited awhile to see if that would get any action, and finally, in frustration, I gave up and went to the bank and the police as mentioned above. The hassle I would have to go through to cancel my Visa card, wait for a replacement, etc... well, I just wanted my damn cigarettes or my money back! So, I wrote:

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: info@euro-cig.com
Subject: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
Copies to: ramona@euro-cig.com, claudia@euro-cig.com, denise@euro-cig.com
Date sent: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:03:48 +0200



Re: My cigarette order of March 14, 2006 still not received.

I have just returned from the commisariat of police after visiting my bank.

I have not received my cigarettes, and have applied to my bankcard for a
refund. I have just learned from my bank that your company is claiming that
I did not make an internet purchase, but that I bought the cigarettes
outside of France, from you directly.

I see quite clearly what kind of organization you are running: a scam.

Now, here's what I propose: either I get my cigarettes immediately, or I
1.) pursue the filing of fraud charges with the commisariat of police.

2.) At the same time I will be providing my bank with the email confirmation
of purchase.

3.) I will write an article exposing your company as a scam and warning
people to not do business with you and will publish it on my websites here:

http://signs-of-the-times.org/signs/signs.php

here:

http://www.cassiopaea.org/

and here:

http://www.laura-knight-jadczyk.com/

I can assure you that you will lose more business than it will
cost you to make this customer satisfied.

Thanks for your time,

Laura Knight-Jadczyk

I received a truly CHEEKY response!

Date sent: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:44:45 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Re: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
From: ramona@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"

Hello Mrs. Knight-Jadczyk,
congratulations for your websites and for your visitors.
We have only 2.430.000 during 6 months and our affairs are growing up
every day and we don't accept you insult us as spam. This is a no correct
way to claim because we have regularly shipped you, your no. 10 cartons of
More Red 120.

About your Police we are not interested, we are legally resident in
British Virgin Island and no people can attach us.

However our interest is to see our clients satisfied and recurring, in
this way we are interested to resolve your matter and we will investigate
immediately with our shipping postal office; it will be necessary some
days to have their answer and we will be back to you as soon we receive
this answer; but please, don't speak about us as spam because we are
honest merchants and we are the first seller of cigarettes in your Country
and this is possible only because french clients trust in Euro-cig.com.

Cordialment,

Recomend us to your smokers friends and have free your cigs; partecipate
to our referral program
:https://euro-cig.com/index.php?sectiune=20&lang=en
Feel free to contact us anytime. Assuring you the best service at all times!
Please don't delete the email history, and please provide your full name.
This way we can help you faster. Thank you.
With regards
Ramona
Customer care-Euro area
ramona@euro-cig.com

Then, another email followed fast on that one:

Date sent: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:24:42 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Re: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
From: ramona@euro-cig.com
To: Laura Knight-Jadczyk

Hello Mrs. Knight-Jadczyk,
our warehouse inform us to have shipped no. 3 parcels for no. 4+4+2
cartons within April 21 and it's appearing incredible you have not
received no parcels.

Now we are receiving feed backs from our clients informing us they are
receiving our parcels with much delay, until 65 days and this happen
because we changed our courier, from French Post to Deutsche post.

However we will ship you again during today no. 4 cartons of More Red 120;
in receiving our parcels we will ship the remaining no. 6 cartons.

It's established as follows : if you receive our parcels you will pay us
the parcels we are shipping again.

We hope you will appreciate our efforts to resolve this matter.

Have a nice day.
Recomend us to your smokers friends and have free your cigs; partecipate
to our referral program
:https://euro-cig.com/index.php?sectiune=20&lang=en
Feel free to contact us anytime. Assuring you the best service at all times!
Please don't delete the email history, and please provide your full name.
This way we can help you faster. Thank you.
With regards
Ramona
Customer care-Euro area
ramona@euro-cig.com

From: Laura Knight-Jadczyk
To: ramona@euro-cig.com
Subject: Re: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
Date sent: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:56:34 +0200


I have still received nothing.

This is totally ridiculous.
LK-J

And there it sits.

 

[eagles fly free]

They are obviously a scam. I will agree with the friend you advised that their website is based in romania and they are eager to prove that they are worthy of joining the EEC....

Maybe if you check the EU parliament website and see if there is a 'fraud' section or something similar in a police website...

Also you may, if you have time to quote to them the latest decision that they cannot post cigs across europe anymore ot see what they have to say.... It will be interesting....

Best regards
Andreas

 

[Laura]

Well, surprise, surprise!! After all this time of hearing not a word from these people, sending them the link to this forum thread finally got a rise!

Date sent: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:58:21 +0200 (EET)
Subject: Re: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
From: ramona@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"

Dear Mrs. Laura,
we have shipped and reshipped your order and now we are tired to speak of
an order 15/03, reshipped 15/06.
I think you have received your cigarettes and now try to have other.
Write on your website, act how you like, but write on your website we have
reshipped your cigarettes.You can write what you like on your webiste,
sorry we cannot write on your website because you are the admin and you
will delete our answers, you will write what you like. Inform the visitors
that you are the admin oof your website.
But make attention, we are the first seller in Europe and we can refer you
to our lawer in France.
tremember you imported in your Country goods not allowed, you are against
the law of your Country. Remember this.Thank you.
We are honest merchants and we are quiet with ourselves.

With regards
Ramona
Customer care-Euro area
ramona@euro-cig.com

Now, keep in mind that these are the same people that swore up and down to the bank/credit card people that I bought those cigarettes in person!!!

Yeah, right!

Scam artists.

 

[Jacques]

Ramona said: remember you imported in your Country goods not allowed, you are against
the law of your Country. Remember this.Thank you.
We are honest merchants and we are quiet with ourselves.

Not a surprise that they did not send the cig. Easy money for them.
And she dares to say: We are honest merchants and we are quiet with ourselves.

What about conscience??????????????

 

[anart]

tremember you imported in your Country goods not allowed, you are against
the law of your Country. Remember this.Thank you.

Ha! Nice 'not so subtle' threat there...poor Ramona seems beside herself - perhaps if they had simply shipped the products that were paid for, they could have avoided all this?

 

[Peam]

Laura, in one of the emails you received:

Have a nice day.
Visit our site http://Fragrance.euro-cig.com

It goes to a site about Allah Akbar.

On this site: http://www.euro-cig.com/ it says:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please help us to improve our service. You are one of approximately 500 visitors we get each day; only 35% place orders, the remaining 65% do not. This could be due to the price, quality, lack of confidence in shopping online, difficulties with the purchasing procedure or some other reason. If you are one of the 65% we invite you to contact us telling us the reason why you didn't make any purchases of cigarettes. Thanks! - This will be a help to us and to all our customers, and you will have contributed to improving our service

I'm one of those 65%. So I just might tell em why I didn't get any.

 

[domi]

Date sent: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:58:21 +0200 (EET)
Subject: Re: Euro Cig Fraud Alert
From: ramona@euro-cig.com
To: "Laura Knight-Jadczyk"

Dear Mrs. Laura,
we have shipped and reshipped your order and now we are tired to speak of
an order 15/03, reshipped 15/06.
I think you have received your cigarettes and now try to have other.
Write on your website, act how you like, but write on your website we have
reshipped your cigarettes.You can write what you like on your webiste,
sorry we cannot write on your website because you are the admin and you
will delete our answers, you will write what you like. Inform the visitors
that you are the admin oof your website.
But make attention, we are the first seller in Europe and we can refer you
to our lawer in France.
tremember you imported in your Country goods not allowed, you are against
the law of your Country. Remember this.Thank you.
We are honest merchants and we are quiet with ourselves.

With regards
Ramona
Customer care-Euro area
ramona@euro-cig.com

They are the first seller in Europe, yet when you order something from them you're importing something illegally?

Let's see, the fact that they are on St Barths to begin with is because it is a shady business. It wouldn't surprise me if they are (or were) also involved in the adult entertainment business (based on the design of their website).

 

[Laura]

I'm one of those 65%. So I just might tell em why I didn't get any.

I hope that a lot of people tell them why.

 

[eagles fly free]

Dear Laura,

If i was you i would have 'dared' them to sue me.... call their 'bluff' so to say because we all know that there is no chance in the million they will do that since they are the ones breaking the law and not you. Besides the legislation come in force after you put your order so at that time you did not do anything illegal.....

I will also insert all the conversation to my website and as soon i will do so i will let you know.The more places it is posted the better and also i will post the same in a UK message board and give you the link here.

Best regards
Andreas

I have placed it to my website under the new section 'fraud alerts'. I am trying to post the same at metro(dot)co(dot)uk but for osme reason it does not let me... maybe their server is busy or something but i will retry later.

 

[Laura]

If i was you i would have ''dared'' them to sue me.... call their ''bluff'' so to say because we all know that there is no chance in the million they will do that since they are the ones breaking the law and not you.

Well, hopefully, they'll sue me if the word begins to spread and they lose business.

Besides the legislation come in force after you put your order so at that time you did not do anything illegal.....

Not only that, but it was a "company" order for 5 people.

I will also insert all the conversation to my website and as soon i will do so i will let you know.The more places it is posted the better and also i will post the same in a UK message board and give you the link here.

Thanks. I hope it starts appearing on tens, then scores, then hundreds of websites....

You know, if I hadn't had the conversation with my banker who got the word directly from the Card people that their claim was that I bought the cigarettes in person and there was no shipping involved, I might almost believe that they actually could have sent them. But once they have been exposed in a lie like that - a lie that exposes them as a fraud to begin with - then there's no way that I can believe that they actually shipped the cigarettes and I just didn't get them for some reason.

We order a LOT of stuff via the internet and this is the only place that has ever screwed us. Sometimes stuff is delivered by the Customs people and they want their taxes, and I pay them, but NEVER has anything else failed to arrive.