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Report: #364224

Complaint Review: Lou Dayo Lou Dayo USA Duaban Mining Ghana Accra Ocean Annette Smith Annetta Smith - Accra Other

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  • Lou Dayo Lou Dayo USA Duaban Mining Ghana Accra Ocean Annette Smith Annetta Smith Accra Ghana (also USA) Accra, Other Ghana

Lou Dayo USA Duaban Mining Ghana Accra Ocean Annette Smith Annetta Smith Professional Gold Scammers/ fraudsters working in USA and Ghana - BEWARE!! Accra Ghana

*Consumer Comment: Please can you help?

*Consumer Comment: I too have been scamed by annette lou smith and mr.ocean of loudayo

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I live in the UK and was pursuing gold dust exports from several countried including Ghana.

No doubt, anyone reading this message has already researched gold (dust in particular) purchase and resale. On the face of it - Ghana offers real opportunity, you can pretty much buy significant quantities - at prices that can make a very healthy return.

That's exactly what i though and did as much homework as i could, which is how i found the Lou Dayo company: -
http://loudayousa.com/Lou-Dayo.html

I'm sure this is where many of you are right now!
Its headed by an African-American lady called Annette Smith - picture of her on her Website (with shades!). I phoned, discussed everything regarding my business and subsequently visited Ghana on a fact-finding mission. What made this feel so real was that Annette was American, spoke the language, was confident and knew the gold business well - however this is all part of the scam - to entice you in.

I met Annette whilst i was in Ghana and was introduced to a large Ghanaian called 'Mr. Ocean' (at a Chinese restaurant in Achimota). Apparently he was a mine owner, and a village chief. His 'company' held the appropriate export license to allow private buyers to export gold dust.

Now here's the thing....

1) I visited his mining operation - details of this i can supply, and whilst small - is full operational
2) I checked his mining permit and export license via the PMMC in Accra
3) I 'road-tested' all his paperwork by purchasing a small quantity of alluvial concentrate (gold dust) worth $2000, and took this to Dubai. Here i tested privately - confirming the authenticity of the product befor selling it.
4) On my route to Dubai, i went to see Customs at Accra airport and made them check the paperwork supplied by Mr. Ocean and Annette - it was generally speaking ok.
5) I returned to the UK and planned a more substantial visit back to Ghana to procure a much larger transaction...of 2Kgs of Gold dust - which was being sold to me for $20,000 a kilo.

I was still hesitant and cautious in my dealings, taking only some of my money with me. With Annette's and Mr.Ocean's help i established a personal account with Standard Chartered Bank in Accra Central (their largest branch). There assistance with this gave me assurance that i was dealing with genuine business people (alas my optimism was unfounded!). There is more detail around setting up the bank account - but i'll leave that for now - suffice to say i set-up the account and managed to get my money across. Note that i used S.C because this is who they bank with.

Once i had my money - i withdrew $40,000 dollars, went to Mr.Ocean's house in Achimota - an area within Accra. Behind the green steel doors and barbed wire fencing this nondescript house is where Mr.Ocean & co conduct their fraud. I was fully on my guard - but by this stage i had been to this house several times - and felt reasonably comfortable.

The Scam!

1) The gold they sell is genuine! - this is what makes the scam professional! i tested using acid - which is fairly common. You can also test via the Government owned Ministry, this is mandatory to get the export papers. The point here is that - the goods were absolutely genuine
2) All the paperwork produced was genuine - this includes the fully legit copies of the Export form (A2 form), Certificate of Origin and Seller invoice.
3) Once i had the gold and paperwork - i gave the money, exchanged niceties and left. At this stage i was being shuttled by Mr. Ocean's own driver (to and from the hotel). I genuinely believed this was the safest option. After all, i was now convinced that these people were genuine and were looking for a long term partnership
4) On the way back to the hotel, the driver is going slow - on the lookout for something.....and i'm sure he deviates from his usual route.
5) I hear a brief siren, and get stopped by a fully armed police car. Two cops step out (with guns). Some rubbish about a random drug check is given. I know instantly whats about to happen.....my heart sinks.
6) A childish act follows whereby the drivers paperwork is checked, and silly questions asked. They then eye my rucksack, and ask me to open it. I know where this is going....and in all fairness i feel that its not worth doing anything that could risk my life.
7) They grab the sealed contents and demand to see the paperwork. They take the paperwork (i.e. all the proof) and instantly the random drug search is over. They tell us to come to 'a fictitious' police station and scarper.
8) The driver, clearly in on the whole charade, comes out with some jibberish about not to worry and telling Mr. Ocean etc etc etc.
9) I get to the hotel and absolutely lay in to the driver - causing a big scene outside the hotel...
10) I decide not to tell the authorities as i have lost all confidence in everything around me.....i was held up by absolutely genuine police offers - but obviously paid off! who can i trust now!
11) Mr. Ocean rings 1 hour later.....denying all culpability! - i take none of it - but know theres little i can do. I also believe he was trying to sting me for more money to try and 'pay off' the already paid off cops!!
12) I leave Ghana the next day and vow never to return.

People......these guys are professionals. Thats how i was done in. Their scam is elaborate and well executed. They have a number of people paid off to allow them to do what they do.

I can supply further details to anyone interested - but please - you will know instantly who i am talking about if you've seen their website - or met them already. They will set you up with smaller deals and then hit you hard.

My parting words with Mr. Ocean & Co...was simply that i would tell the World about their fraud and cause them the only suffering they care about - loss of revenue!

As a parting note - the PMMC - whom i met did warn me not to deal with anyone privately and not to buy dust, however their own prices were so high, i felt i had to try.

In all i lost $40,000, a huge amount of confidence and trust in my fellow man!!

Any questions - please get back to me - or post your own details.

Irfan

Always Be careful.

Irfan
England
United Kingdom

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/18/2008 03:59 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/lou-dayo-lou-dayo-usa-duaban-mining-ghana-accra-ocean-annette-smith-annetta-smith/accra-other/lou-dayo-usa-duaban-mining-ghana-accra-ocean-annette-smith-annetta-smith-professional-gold-364224. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#2 Consumer Comment

Please can you help?

AUTHOR: Dennis - (New Zealand)

POSTED: Friday, November 19, 2010

Hello - I am sorry for your experience in Ghana - unfortunately the dishonesty continues and I am asking for your help.  

My close friend was scammed last month by a Ghana Gold Dealer - he went to Ghana to purchase, but did not complete the trade.  When he got his money back from the dealers he left the next day to come home. While he was travelling home he was arrested in the UAE when he tried to make a small purchase at an airport - the gold dealers had swapped his large amount of money for counterfeit american dollars.

He is now being held in prison but we are trying to gather examples of dishonesty with Ghana gold dealers to show that he was the victim of trickery.  Please can you email me at whero@clear.net.nz so I can contact you and give more information and also ask if you can email to me a statement about your experience so we can use it to support his trial. 

Thanks Dennis

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#1 Consumer Comment

I too have been scamed by annette lou smith and mr.ocean of loudayo

AUTHOR: Lee - (Canada)

POSTED: Friday, October 17, 2008

Dear Irfan

I too had a very simular experience with Annette Lou Smith and Mr.Ocean.
She was contracted by me to help export gold out of Ghana. She was American and she seemed to know the business so I trusted her to help facilitate the export.

I sent her large sums of money to pay for the VAT and the paper work as well as other costs. Just like yourself when the gold was about to board Emirtes Cargo
It was tken by her paid police on suspecian that we were exporting drugs. She and Mr. Ocean said that this was not their fault and that if I wanted the gold back I needed to pay off the police. I have tried to reach her several times and I even sent her a copy of your letter to rip off report. She has not responded to my e-mails or phone calls. Irfan this woman needs to be stopped she gives all Africans a bad name. I think she now realizes the world will soon know about her scam. Please contact me at billmelater09@gmail.com so we can discuss.

I am very sorry for your loss and I hope you can recover. Wish u all the best and
please contact me.

billmelater09@gmail.com

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