April 25, 2023

Ramadhan dan Idul Fitri 1444 H

Alhamdulillah bisa dipertemukan lagi dengan Ramadhan dan Idul Fitri 1444 H di kala banyak permasalahan datang. Bulan yang penuh berkah ini menjadi sangat spesial karena jatuh di bulan ulang tahun saya dan bisa menghabiskan waktu di Aceh. 

Saya akan menuliskan sedikit cerita-cerita seru di bulan Ramadhan.

1. Dapat Free Tiket Garuda
Alhamdulillah di kala kepusingan tentang permasalahan keuangan di beberapa bulan belakangan ini, Allah Ar-rahman memberikan petunjuk dimana saya memiliki Garuda Miles yang tidak terpakai selama bertahun-tahun. Kebetulan sedang diadakan Garuda Miles Travel Fare, jadi iseng-iseng saya cek berapa poin saya dan ternyata cukup untuk pulang-pergi mudik ke Aceh bahkan dengan Sky Priority Privilege. 

Saya juga dapat ekstra bagasi sampai 40 kg, sehingga tidak perlu susah payah menimbang-nimbang koper ketika mau pulang. Jadinya keluarga bisa dengan leluasa menitip ini-itu untuk dibawa pulang karena kapasitas bagasi saya yang besar. Udah seperti mau ke luar negri saja.

2. Bukber Ulang Tahun
Jujur saja dengan kepadatan jadwal saya untuk buka puasa bersama dan saya memang tidak bisa menolak undangan teman-teman, saya jadi bingung sendiri karena harus menyisihkan waktu setiap sore untuk 'bukber'. Setelah melihat keuntungan partnership Amazon yang lumayan banyak dan berdoa pada Allah supaya dicukupkan rezeki, saya memutuskan untuk mengadakan bukber dan mengundang semua orang yang mengajak saya bukber🤭 pada tanggal 25 Maret 2023. Anggap saja dalam rangka Early Birthday Dinner🤭. 

Saya mengundang 20an orang lebih (bayangkan kalau harus menghadiri bukber untuk 20an orang di hari yang berbeda😲) dan ada beberapa dari mereka juga tidak bisa hadir karena berbagai alasan. Ya kalau diundur pun sudah tidak mungkin karena saya harus mudik. Sengaja memilih Shabu Hachi All You Can Eat karena lumayan murah, enak, halal, dan mushollanya bagus. Kalau di resto biasa, makanannya terbatas. Sedangkan kalau di hotel mahal sekali.
Happy Birthday
Acara makan-makan ini menyatukan beberapa circle pertemanan saya. Saya juga tidak menyangka kalau bakalan ada perayaan tiup lilin (karena memang bukan di tanggal ulang tahun) dengan lagu yang membahana seantero restoran. Seru juga! Saya jadi bahagia banget Alhamdulillah.

3. Pencapaian Baca Al-Qur'an
Ramadhan adalah bulan Al-Qur'an dan saya selalu menargetkan diri untuk mengkhatamkan-nya dengan segenap tenaga. Saya udah kebut sejak bulan Sya'ban, mengantisipasi kalau dapat mens nanti jadi tidak bisa khatam. Di awal Ramadhan, saya sempat khatam sekali yang merupakan lanjutan dari bulan Sya'ban. 

Sayangnya karena saya sakit beberapa hari (walaupun tetap berpuasa) dan dapat mens diawal dan akhir Ramadhan, total saya mengaji mungkin hanya 15-16 juz saja. Tidak masalah deh, yang penting sudah berusaha sekuat tenaga dan tetap bisa membaca doa khatam Qur'an sekali saja😁.

4. ANA Business Class
Sore menjelang berbuka, teman saya Kris mengajak ke Amrik lagi karena ada harga tiket pesawat All Nippon Airways (ANA) Business Class error hanya Rp. 5,2jutaan untuk pulang pergi. Saya sangat tergiur, mengingat di bulan Mei saya harus ke Amrik lagi untuk menghadiri konferensi. 

Saya telepon Satrio untuk bertanya apakah kita bisa pergi apa enggak? Akhirnya Satrio meminta waktu 24 jam untuk berpikir. Sebenarnya takut juga tiket (error) murahnya bakalan hilang kalau harus menunggu 1 x 24 jam, tapi mengingat kita tidak boleh gegabah, apalagi menyangkut konferensi. Nanti kalau dibatalkan terbang dan kita sudah di bandara 'kan bisa berabe. Apabila kehadiran di konferensi sudah dikonfirmasi, hotel udah di booking, ehhh nggak jadi terbang kan mengerikan banget.

Baiklah besok harga tiket pesawat kembali normal dan saya tidak beli tiket, padahal uda di cart. Rada sedih juga karena mengingat kapan lagi naik kelas bisnis semurah itu. Biasanya pasti diatas 50jt pulang pergi. Agak bete juga melihat postingan teman-teman yang berhasil beli sampai pamer-pamer di Story bagaimana business class-nya ANA. Ngapain juga posting begituan😅.

Sayangnya, ANA kemudian membatalkan semua penerbangan diatas April dan uang dikembalikan. Alhamdulillah saya tidak jadi beli, tapi beruntung juga teman-teman yang bisa terbang di bulan April. Kalau memang Allah mengizinkan saya untuk menghadiri konferensi, tidak perlu tiket murah pun pasti bisa pergi seperti tahun lalu dan dimampukan beli tiketnya. Bismillah, semangat!💪🏻💪🏻

5. Aceh Panassss🥵
Ntah karena kebiasaan saya di Depok menyalakan AC full dan listrik masih hemat, di Aceh tidak begitu. Cuaca super duper panas. Ingin ngadem di kamar aja, tapi keluarga pada berkumpul di ruang tengah yang panasnya minta ampun🥵. Sudah menghidupkan kipas angin tapi anginnya masih panas banget. Saya sampai mandi 3x sehari dan tiap hari keramas. Subhanallah panasnya!

Di Aceh juga berasa listrik cepat habis. Kadang harus isi Rp. 500rb perminggu karena AC di setiap kamar 1pk, tapi tidak dinyalakan terus menerus. Biasanya kamar Mama yang lebih lama nyalanya dan kami siang berkumpul di kamar Mama untuk tidur. Kalau malam sih kembali ke kamar masing-masing.

5. Tamu Lebaran Membludak
Mungkin Mama saya memang seleb kali ya😆, tamunya enggak berhenti sama sekali. Dari lebaran pertama, bahkan sampai saya pulang ke Banda Aceh, mungkin ada 100 orang tamu yang berkunjung. Mama memang termasuk yang di-'tua'-kan di kampung. Anak-Keponakan-Cucu-nya banyak sekali jadi pada datang semua di Lebaran. Apalagi di kampung, rumah saudara pada berdekatan, jadi semua datang berkunjung.

Saya sampai kecapekan bikin minum, tapi satu sisi senang juga banyak tamu. Karena walaupun saya tinggal di Depok dan pada momen lebaran semua ngumpul, mereka tidak lupa pada saya. 
Keluargaku💙

Akhir kata Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1444 H.
Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum shiyamana wa shiyamakum wa ja’alna minal ‘aidin wal faizin.

تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ صِيَمَنَا وَ صِيَمَكُمْ وَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْعَائِدِين وَالْفَائِزِين

"Semoga Allah menerima (amal) dari kami dan (amal) dari kalian, puasa kami dan puasa kalian. Dan Semoga Allah menjadikan kita bagian dari orang-orang yang kembali (kepada ketaqwaan/kesucian) dan orang-orang yang menang (dalam melawan hawa nafsu dan memperoleh ridha Allah)."

Februari 24, 2023

Worklife

Postingan di akhir bulan kasih sayang. Alhamdulillah di bulan ini kehidupan saya mulai membaik, berkat dari doa-doa dari semua orang dan kerja keras siang-malam. Kalau dipikir-pikir lagi, sejak pertengahan tahun lalu waktu saya hanya didedikasikan untuk belajar dan bekerja. Bangun pagi jam 3.30 atau jam 4 pagi, shalat, belajar, sarapan, kerja, makan siang, kerja, tidur siang sejenak agar tidak sakit mata, kerja lagi dan belajar lagi sampai malam. Semakin saya belajar, maka semakin paham bahwa ilmu saya terlalu sedikit. Eh kenapa dulu merasa sudah tahu segalanya?🫢

Saya akan menceritakan sedikit tentang beberapa hal yang saya kerjakan selama ini sampai hampir bisa membayar hutang perusahaan yang dulu. Saya tidak mau menjadi Direktur yang tidak bertanggung jawab, seakan pergi saja tanpa memikirkan ada hutang yang harus dibayar, ada urusan yang harus diselesaikan, dan ada hubungan/relasi yang harus dijaga. 

Amazon
Tidak bisa dipungkiri kalau Marketplace yang satu ini adalah yang paling saya kuasai, walaupun masih banyak hal yang saya harus pelajari. Beberapa kali saya ditawari menjadi konsultan untuk Amazon dan akhirnya saya mau. Saya membantu membuat akun Amazon yang ternyata sekarang sudah sangat gampang, membantu meriset produk yang laku baik Fulfillment by Amazon atau pun Merchant Fulfill, membantu appeal Amazon yang suspend, dan berbagai permasalahan Amazon lainnya. Tarif yang saya dapatkan dari jasa konsultan ini juga sangat menggiurkan sehingga saya tidak terlalu pusing lagi untuk memaintain akun Amazon milik saya pribadi dan beberapa akun titipan teman-teman. Sebagai catatan, akun Amazon baru sekarang bisa menghasilkan sales sangat tinggi, bahkan jauh lebih tinggi dari akun lama.

Sebenarnya cukup ribet mengurus Amazon orang lain, apalagi partners saya sudah hampir 20 orang dengan berbagai problematikanya. Tapi saya dapat ilmu juga dari mereka, apalagi beberapa dari mereka memang tinggal di Amrik dan bisa langsung riset ke gudang Amazon. Alhamdulillah saya sudah visit juga gudang Amazon di California dan saya bisa nyambung kalau mereka mengajak diskusi. Hal-hal seperti ini memang butuh tim yang bisa inisiatif membantu tanpa diminta. Salah satu tim saya bahkan langsung mencatat semua problematika partner beserta solusinya dalam note dan bisa langsung dibagikan untuk dibaca dan dipelajari calon partner. Ada juga yang khusus memilah-milah masalah terbaru Amazon beserta appeal letter dalam satu folder. Dia juga mengumpulkan semua appeal dari forum Amazon, Facebook, dan Chatgpt. Seru juga, saya jadi tidak merasa sendiri seperti sebelumnya. Antusiasme mereka membuat saya jadi sangat bersemangat🤩🤩🤩. Bahkan mereka bisa membantu berpikir keras agar penjualan di amazon kita semua (termasuk partners) tidak boleh kurang dari bulan sebelumnya. Alhamdulillah.

Ekspor
Menghabiskan beberapa hari di Singapore bulan ini, saya jadi paham kalau negara kecil ini memang besar karena bisnis ekspor-impor. Duh, kemana saya selama ini, kenapa nggak dari dulu belajar ekspor. Melihat kontainer berlayar, ada rasa bangga di hati. Keren sekali rasanya.
Semoga suatu hari punya kapal kontainer aaamiiinn🤲
Menjalankan bisnis ekspor tidak mudah. Kalian harus niat mencari buyer dan suplier. Dari sisi mencari buyer, kalian harus niat tiap hari mengulik website ekspor impor, bertanya pada pakar, kalau para pakar sibuk, telepon sekertarisnya. Ntah berapa youtube ekspor yang saya tonton, buku yang saya baca, buyer yang saya email, nikmati saja prosesnya. Capek sih, tapi semua akan terbayar pada waktunya. Kalian juga akan punya banyak teman bisnis untuk bertukar pikiran.

Dari sisi suplier, kalian juga harus niat untuk berkunjung ke pabrik. Kalau satu pintu suplier yang kita ketuk tidak mau dibuka, maka ketuklah pintu lainnya. Yakinlah bakalan ada pintu pabrik yang dibuka untuk kalian dan hubungan akan langgeng sampai sekarang. Saya menyarankan kalian hadir di Trade Expo. Paling enggak, mereka harus tau kalau kalian mulai bermain di dunia ini, sehingga nanti kalau ada kesulitan, kalian bisa dibantu, atau nama kalian akan mulai disebut-sebut dalam pembicaraan bisnis mereka. Hal ini penting untuk kemajuan bisnis kita kedepannya. Kalau hanya duduk diam di rumah, tidak berkenalan dengan orang lain, tidak mau belajar, tidak ikut seminar, rugi saja. Kalau merasa tidak punya waktu, toh kita semua memiliki 24 jam yang sama dalam hidup. Tinggal bagaimana mengaturnya saja.

Oh iya, kalian juga akan tau kalau ada orang-orang yang super duper kaya raya, bahkan sosial media pun dia tidak punya, tidak flexing sana-sini. Orang-orang ini yang menginspirasi saya untuk tidak terlalu aktif lagi di sosial media untuk urusan pekerjaan. The less you post, the more people can wonder.

Baiklah, ini sedikit update dari saya. Semoga bisa menginspirasi kalian kalau dunia ini sulit dan kalian harus terus berdoa, belajar, dan bekerja untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup. Sampai jumpa!

Januari 01, 2023

Good Bye 2022

Tahun 2022 sudah berakhir, Alhamdulillah. Segala puji bagi Allah subhanahu wata'ala saya bisa menjalani tahun ini dengan unik. Bukan baik dan bukan juga buruk, tapi unik. Teringat dulu di tahun 2021, saya tidak pernah membayangkan rencana-rencana yang akan terealisasikan di 2022 karena memang tahun 2021 saja sudah sangat berat untuk saya. Rasanya di awal tahun 2022, dimulailah segala hal yang baru dalam hidup, bahkan saya tidak pernah membayangkan akan melakukan hal ini sebelumnya. Saya jadi membaca lagi postingan terakhir di 2021, dimana hidup saya di tahun itu juga seperti rollercoaster. Bahkan bisa terjadi lagi di 2022. Saya merasa ada yang salah. Apakah selama ini saya terlalu menyepelekan sesuatu, atau ilmu agama yang masih sedikit? Tapi semakin kesini, semakin tampak jelas apa yang salah. Ya, yang salah ada saya sendiri😅. Ampunkan dosaku ya Allah🤲.

Saya akan menceritakannya satu-persatu. Semoga dapat menginspirasi kalian dan diambil hikmahnya ya.

Januari
Ada dua hal menarik yaitu Visa Amerika disetujui dan saya melakukan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja (PHK) kepada hampir seluruh karyawan. Lolos Visa Amerika itu membuat saya senang bukan kepalang, tapi melakukan PHK membuat saya sedih sekali. Sebagai pemilik perusahaan, memutuskan rezeki orang lain itu rasanya hancur😩😫. Memang kadang karyawan merasa saya jahat, sampai melakukan PHK. Tapi beban yang terlalu banyak membuat saya harus mengambil keputusan itu.

Sekarang kalau melewati kantor lama, jadi sedih juga. Dulu saya mencoba membangun mimpi-mimpi disudut ruko dua lantai di Tebet. Tapi Allah pasti punya rencana terbaik. Dengan memantapkan hati, saya pun harus tetap move on. Semoga ini merupakan titik awal dari kebangkitan bisnis-bisnis besar di masa yang akan datang. Aamiin🤲.

Februari
Akhir Januari saya ke Medan, lalu dilanjutkan ke Pontianak hanya selang 3 hari sejak pulang dari Medan. Perjalanan kedua kota ini merupakan tahap healing dari beratnya beban pikiran dan kehidupan. Saya bisa tertawa bersama teman-teman untuk sejenak melupakan rasa sakit hati setelah melakukan PHK. Tapi pada saat itu saya tetap ragu tentang apa yang saya harus lakukan ke depannya. Oh iya, saya stuck di Pontianak selama 5 hari karena kena COVID. Ini adalah COVID pertama saya dan saya merasakan demam terpanas sampai ke ubun-ubun di kota orang. Saya hanya bisa diam di hotel, memesan obat via Halodoc, berjemur, dan beristirahat sebisa mungkin.

Saya juga buka behel gigi di bulan ini. Alhamdulillah setelah perjuangan 4,5 tahun, melalui 5 kali operasi, jadi juga senyum Perfect Smile yang saya idam-idamkan sebelumnya😁. Rasanya aneh karena nggak ada lagi yang menyangga di gigi ini karena selama beberapa tahun sudah terbiasa bersama behel yang melekat.

Selang 2 minggu sejak hasil COVID19 saya negatif, saya vaksin booster. Hal ini untuk keperluan perjalanan ke Amerika, takutnya nanti malah dipermasalahkan disana. Setelah kena COVID, lalu vaksin, rasanya badan saya kurang fit sehingga harus banyak istirahat. Mana waktu itu AC di rumah dari 3 yang terpasang, hanya berfungsi 1 saja. Belum lagi atap belakang bocor sehingga membuat energi saya terkuras untuk urusan-urusan rumah tangga. Huff, lelah juga😓.

Maret
Perjalanan pertama saya ke Amerika dan keluar negeri setelah pandemi, sendirian! Padahal, amazon mendadak suspend sebanyak 4 akun😰 dan saya deg-degan dengan kondisi keuangan, walaupun tabungan masih banyak. Ya Allah, kalau bukan atas ijin-Mu, saya tidak akan berani ke Amrik sendiri. Saya mendarat di Los Angeles (LA), lalu dijemput Kak Sisca dan Bang Robin. Jadi punya teman baru yang baik hati. Kalau mau menceritakan kegiatan saya selama di LA, bisa-bisa harus menulis banyak postingan.

Setelah dari LA saya ke Miami dan Orlando bersama Iyus. Setelah 8 bulan nggak ketemu, akhirnya bisa main bareng di Florida bersama. Sebenarnya saya kurang suka Miami karena semua orang disana berpakaian seksi. Saya lebih suka Orlando yang ada Disney Magic Kingdom dan Universal Studio Island of Adventure. Kerjaan kita maiiiin terus🥳. Naik semua wahana, bahkan ada teman-teman yang join kemudian bernama Yusup dan Graha. Padahal di hari ketiga saya pengen banget ke SeaWorld Orlando, tapi Iyus nggak mau. Padahal kan saya suka lihat ikan😔, makanya suka Raja Ampat, Bunaken, dan Derawan. Kalau mengingat waktu itu, rasanya kangen banget. Hidup tanpa beban, uang banyak, dan tidak ada masalah yang berarti.

Dari Florida saya lanjut ke New York. Beda negara bagian, beda juga temannya. Kali ini saya bersama Mbak Feira mengeksplorasi New York City (NYC). Kami shopping, jalan kesana-kemari, walaupun banyak juga momen dimana saya harus eksplorasi sendiri karena Mbak Feira ujian online. NYC memang enak juga untuk solo traveller (yang tidak pernah dan tidak mungkin saya lakukan karena perijinan yang ketat dari keluarga). Kemana-mana gampang, tinggal naik bus atau kereta yang dapat menjangkau seluruh tempat. Hanya saja saya belum sempat ke air terjun niagara. Mungkin suatu saat nanti.

April
Bulan Ramadhan dan bulan Ulang Tahun (tapi kali ini sepi ucapan dan tidak ada makan-makan). Saya pulang ke Aceh seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya dan hanya menghabiskan waktu bersama keluarga. Saat itu saya pulang ke rumah baru dan rasana senang sekali karena Mama membangun rumah di tepi sawah. Saya juga sekalian melatih Mama dan kakak sepupu (Kak Nana) untuk menjawab pertanyaan wawancara Visa US yang akan mereka hadapi nanti. Saya juga sibuk mencari uang untuk membawa Mama ke Amerika. Rasanya pusing, Amazon banyak yang suspend, tapi sedang butuh banyak uang.

Mei
Mama dan Kak Nana berhasil wawancara Visa US. Seminggu kemudian kami berangkat ke Amerika. Kalau membaca cerita di postingan blog tahun lalu, siapa sangka saya yang awalnya bahkan tidak diijinkan ke Amerika, eh malah sekalian bawa Mama. Alhamdulillah 'ala Kulli Hal (segala puji bagi Allah atas setiap keadaan). Satrio juga akhirnya ikut ke Amerika.

Dimulailah drama tak berujung di negeri Paman Sam sampai ke Marroco yang tiada akhir. Mungkin ini salah satu ujian terberat yang menguji kesabaran, keuangan, fisik, dan mental. Mulai dari hampir tidak diijinkan boarding oleh JAL,  kenyamanan di Minneapolis, ikut seminar dan bertemu dengan artis-artis Hollywood seperti Mila Kunis dan salah satu personel One Direction, Liam Payne, juga Snoop Dogg. Saya tidak menyangka kalau konferensinya bakal sekeren itu. Terima kasih Satrio atas undangannya. 

Kami lalu pindah ke Cancun, Mexico yang selalu badai. Jadi mengenal Syari dan Josh (teman-teman Iyus), lalu hang out di Coco Bongo sampai pagi. Saat itu sangat seru, rasanya nggak mau pulang. We were so happy back then🥳. 

Juni
Lalu penerbangan pulang kembali ke NYC dari Cancun, membuat kita harus menginap semalam di Chicago karena cuaca buruk menerjang NYC. Bagasi kita yang hilang (walaupun akhirnya kembali), dan permasalahan dengannya yang membuat saya sampai sekarang malas berkomunikasi. Rasanya bulan Juni adalah awal dari rasa sakit hati, pikiran, dan badan. Permasalahan di perjalanan yang tidak terlalu mulus, ditambah harus melanjutkan penerbangan ke Marocco.

Marocco adalah negara islam yang indah. Saya bertemu teman baru bernama Masri dan Zahra. Mereka sangat tulus membantu dan menemani saya dan keluarga saat banyak rintangan mendera di negri tempat Ustadz Abdul Somad belajar. Sampai-sampai, di hari terakhir akan pulang ke Qatar, saya dan Mama malah kena COVID (lagi). Bayangkan, energi sudah habis, dada sesak, tapi harus mengurus ini itu bahkan sampai kami tidak bisa boarding di bandara Casablanca. Rasanya mau nangis, bingung mau minta tolong kepada siapa. Alhamdulillah ada Achmad dan Satrio yang dengan setia menanyakan kabar dan membantu sebisa mereka. Saya membooking apartemen di dekat bandara untuk istirahat sejenak, agar besok bisa kembali lagi ke bandara.

Perjalanan pulang dari Marocco, transit Qatar, lalu sampai di Indonesia begitu melelahkan. Saya sudah tidak sabar lagi rasanya ingin segera tiba di tanah air. Walaupun pada saat tiba di bandara, kami tertahan di Bea Cukai karena barang belanjaan yang banyak. Ya Allah, rasanya nggak ada energi lagi untuk berdebat dan membela diri. Sampai pada akhirnya pulang ke Depok dan harus beresin rumah terlebih dahulu, baru bisa makan dan istirahat. Berat badan turun 5 kg dan saya sakit.

Juli
Permasalahan baru datang. Tagihan kartu kredit yang membludak tidak disertai dengan pemasukan. Padahal saya sudah memperhitungkan sebelumnya agar uang ke Amerika bisa cukup, tapi terjadilah satu dan lain hal sehingga saya seolah salah perhitungan. Disaat sedih karena kondisi keuangan yang terpuruk, alhamdulillah teman-teman sering main ke rumah untuk menghibur saya apalagi ketika Idul Adha. Dia yang sedang internship di Indonesia pun datang, walaupun saya malas berbasa-basi dengannya. Senang rasanya banyak teman yang berkumpul, walaupun tidak ada yang tau apa yang saya rasakan.

Yang paling pahit adalah ketika ada yang menawar Rancupid untuk dijual. Betapa hancur hati saya, terlebih lagi perjuangan membangun dan mempertahankan perusahaan begitu berat. Saya menolak dan mengambil keputusan untuk menanggung semua hutang dan permasalahannya kembali. Rancupid sudah seperti anak saya sendiri, tidak bisa saya jual begitu saja.

Karena tekanan yang bertubi-tubi, saya memutuskan ke Bandung selama dua minggu untuk menenangkan diri. Paling nggak, disaat saya sedih, masih ada Anis dan tante yang menghibur. Paling nggak, hati yang sakit dan jiwa yang rapuh sedikit terobati.

Agustus
Saya kembali ke Depok dan memulai bisnis ekspor. Ternyata tidak segampang itu, malah sangat sulit mendapatkan buyer. Setiap hari saya mendengar podcast, menonton youtube, membaca buku, segalanya tentang ekspor. Saya juga memulai menghidupkan amazon-amazon yang sudah mati, seolah memulai dari awal dan merombak segala cara berbisnis. Hal ini menguras energi saya sampai sakit flu berat dengan demam tinggi. Lagi sakit begitu, saya sempatkan nongkrong bareng Alex yang datang dari Medan, lalu setelahnya malah tambah sakit lagi. Akhirnya sampai nggak bisa bangun dan saya jadi takut hampir mati. 

Alhamdulillah kondisi tubuh kembali pulih. Saya mengunjungi Mbak Ujha sebelum pulang ke Bahrain dan bertemu dengan Iyus sebelum dia pulang ke NYC. Sebenarnya saya sedih karena bertemu dengan Iyus cuma sesaat dari 2 bulan dia di Indonesia, berpikir dengan kondisi keuangan yang seperti ini, sepertinya tidak akan bisa jalan-jalan dulu dalam waktu beberapa bulan ke depan, apalagi harus ke Amrik. Tapi dia terlihat biasa saja, ya mungkin memang sebagai teman saya tidak begitu berarti. Mungkin malah, tidak bertemu dengan saya pun sebelum pulang baginya tidak mengapa. Saya tidak tau lagi harus 'gimana, tapi saya tetap berdoa, "Semoga Allah selalu melindungimu, melindungi Mbak Ujha dan keluarga, dimana pun kalian berada. Aamiin."

September
Ada acara Amazon di Ritz Carlton. Saat itu saya senang sekali karena akhirnya bisa menghadiri event besar di hotel mewah lagi. Walaupun sebenarnya acara ini biasa saja, tapi saya tetap antusias. Hari demi hari saya mengerjakan Amazon dan mencari pembeli untuk ekspor. Capek banget rasanya, tapi mau bagaimana lagi, semua harus dijalani. 

Konsekuensi menanggung hutang perusahaan adalah membuat orang-orang yang dulu adalah teman dekat menjadi debt collector yang membuat saya tertekan. Seolah-olah selama ini saya tidak pernah mengusahakan membayar hutang. Melakukan listing amazon sampai tengah malam, mengirim appeal letter demi amazon yang suspend terbuka, tidak dihitung olehnya. Intinya, dia tidak mau tau, pokoknya semua tagihan perusahaan bayar segera! Baiklah.

Saya jadi tau, betapa pertemanan yang tulus itu sangat terlihat ketika kita sedang susah. Beban yang saya tanggung sudah banyak, tapi jangankan menawarkan bantuan atau paling tidak memberikan ide, tapi justru memberikan tekanan. Saya jadi meragukan kondisi mental saya baik-baik saja, sampai saya harus konsultasi dengan psikolog. Saya juga mendengarkan kajian-kajian ustadz agar hati lebih tenang sampai saya berusaha mendekatkan diri kepada Allah lebih dari sebelumnya. Kalau bukan karena iman di hati, mungkin saya tidak akan sanggup menanggung beban ini.

Oktober
Anis dan keluarga datang berkunjung ke Depok. Saat itu ada Auzira, keponakan yang akan pergi ke Turki, menemani saya selama 2 minggu. Selama ada Anis, kami pergi ke pameran dagang, bertemu banyak orang baru, bertemu Pak Nursyamsu dan Pak Rachmat, dan mereka tetap baik sekali menerima saya. Memang kita perlu memperbanyak teman-teman yang shaleh, karena kalau pun mereka marah, maka mereka bisa menahan dan menasehati kita dari sisi yang baik. 

Di bulan ini juga, Dita ikut membantu saya mengurus Amazon. Dia adalah sahabat terbaik dan pintar, juga rajin, sehingga penjualan di Amazon saya bisa merangkak naik. Dia lebih baik menjadi Direktur Marketing daripada yang sebelumnya di Rancupid.

November
Ada calon buyer dari Togo yang menawarkan kerjasama dengan nilai yang fantastis yaitu $365,000,000! Coba tolong dihitung nilai rupiahnya😂. Semula saya sudah agak curiga, tapi saya menyuruh Anis sebagai pemilik perusahaan untuk istikharah, mengembalikan semua urusan kepada Allah. Kita tidak tau apakah ini penipuan, atau tidak, karena semua hal masuk akal.

Setelah shalat istikharah, mulailah tercium gerak-gerik penipuan yang membuat saya ingin ngerjain penipunya😆. Singkat cerita, akhirnya saya melaporkan mereka ke interpol agar tidak ada lagi korban di kemudian hari.

Di bulan ini Auzira berangkat ke Turki. Sejak 2 minggu tinggal di rumah saya, jadi ada kedekatan emosional dengan keponakan yang satu itu. Saya jadi seperti Mamanya yang mengurus semua keperluannya sampai berangkat. Sedih juga melepasnya pergi, semoga dia selalu dalam lindungan Allah.

Di akhir bulan ini juga, saya juga mendengar berita dari orang yang pergi ke NYC. Ntahlah apa maksud dia, tapi mengabarkan hal-hal yang semula tidak ingin saya dengar malah membuat hati saya sakit lagi😢. Seolah membuka luka lama bahkan asam lambung saya sampai naik. Kenapa ada orang yang senang menyerang temannya sendiri, memberikan kabar-kabar menyakitkan, dan tidak berhenti dalam satu hari, tapi berhari-hari. Setelah masalah perusahaan, mungkin masalah ini yang paling menyakitkan hati💔.

Desember
Masalah baru lagi. Penjualan membludak bahkan tertinggi di Winter selama saya berbisnis di Amazon, Alhamdulillah. Terima kasih ya Allah, memberikan Dita untuk membantu ngelisting Amazon dan mengecek semua stok barang dengan teliti. Penjualan mendekati natal semakin gila dan saya kembali stress. Pusing memikirkan harus mencari kemana lagi modal😩. 

Untung ada piala dunia di bulan ini yang membuat saya bisa seru-seruan menonton final di warung Aceh Bang Ari, Tebet. Setelah masalah perusahaan dan tekanan orang, sakit hati, pusing memikirkan modal, akhirnya bisa teriak-teriak juga karena pertandingan bola antara Argentina dan Perancis sangat-sangat seruuu! Tertawa lepas bersama teman-teman adalah salah satu cara mengobati hati yang sedih. Walaupun setelah ini, orang yang membuat saya sakit hati, menelepon lagi dan mengabarkan hal-hal yang saya malas dengar. Ngapaaaaiiiin?!😓

Walaupun demikian, Allah selalu mencukupkan rizki saya. Saya tidak pernah berhenti berdoa agar Allah memberikan petunjuk dan pertolongan, juga menenangkan hati saya dari berbagai berita buruk. Saya 100% yakin kalau bersama kesulitan ada kemudahan karena bahkan sampai sekarang saya bisa bertahan. Dalam menghadapi persoalan seperti ini membuat saya berpikir kreatif agar bisa mencari solusi yang cepat dan tepat.

Terima kasih ya Allah telah memberikan petunjuk dan pertolongan, bahwa segala alam semesta ini milik-Mu, sehingga harus memohon kepada-Mu, meminta petunjuk, meminta pertolongan.

حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ

Artinya: “Cukuplah Allah (menjadi penolong) bagi kami dan Dia sebaik-baik pelindung.”

Terima kasih ya Allah telah memberikan orang-orang terbaik dan shaleh yang menyertai saya selama masa sulit ini. 
  • Terima kasih Mama, atas semua doa yang tidak pernah berhenti.
  • Terima kasih Amad, atas semua pertolongan mengurus Amazon dan permasalah keuangan.
  • Terima kasih Anis, atas semua dukungan moral menjadi sahabat yang shalehah. Yang selalu mendukung saya, mendoakan saya, dan menenangkan hati saya setiap rasa gundah datang.
  • Terima kasih Mbak Fitri untuk selalu memastikan kesehatan mental dan spiritual saya masih berjalan normal.
  • Terima kasih Dita dan Puput untuk selalu menjadi teman shalehah, membantu bisnis Amazon sampai penjualan sebanyak ini.
  • Terima kasih Farah dan Auzira, menjadi keponakan yang membuat tantenya merasa jadi punya anak abege. Yang satu berisik, yang satu lagi pendiam😅.
  • Terima kasih Satrio, untuk semua dukungan ilmu dan siap berdikusi kapan pun dan dimana pun.
Terima kasih semua teman-teman yang saya tidak bisa sebutkan satu demi satu. Tapi yang paling memberikan pengaruh besar dalam hidup saya selama beberapa bulan ini adalah mereka yang saya sebutkan diatas.

Rasanya tahun 2022 ini hampir sama beratnya dengan tahun 2015, walaupun di tahun 2015 yang terberat karena saya kehilang Ayah dan itu adalah kehendak Allah yang tidak bisa dihindari.  Akhirnya, semoga kita bisa bertemu dengan Ramadhan di tahun 2023, menjadi pribadi yang baik dan bermanfaat bagi agama, nusa, dan bangsa. Aamiin🤲.

November 13, 2022

West Africa Export-Import Scam Part 3

Before reading this Part Three, I suggest you to read Part One and Part Two just by clicking the link below:



Let's continue this game🤩. I sent them the Proforma Invoice to Foundation of Trade Union (FTU) and they replied me with a Letter of Intent (LOI) and my Proforma Invoice stamped by APPROVED. The Subject email was really tempting : Congratulations for Your Company Winning the Huge Contract Project.🤭🤭. I will comment the paragraph using the green color text.

ATTN: MEUTIA HALIDA KHAIRANI / MR.RENGGANIS (CEO)
TO: PT.ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA

Dear MEUTIA HALIDA KHAIRANI ,

We are glad to open official Business communications with you and your good firm - PT.ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA after we have approved your Proforma Invoice today. We must confess to you that it wasn't easy for me and my Secretary for your Proforma Invoice to be approved today after our Executive Meetings which we concluded today. (Ahh, really?🤭)

My dear, you and your company must not make any form of delay over this Contract Project because of what I and my Secretary passed through before this Proforma Invoice could be approved.

We congratulate you and your company for winning this Contract Project because many companies applied for this Contract but, your company was chosen and therefore, won this Contract Project from our Noble Organization, Foundation of Trade Union (FTU).

We have attached these two (2) documents in this email :

1.Letter Of Intent (LOI)
2.The Approved Invoice

In the Documents, you have been instructed what you should provide before we will immediately transfer your advance payment into your bank account from anyone of these three countries : TOGO, NETHERLANDS or DUBAI within 48 hours you have provided all the requirements. 
(OK within 48 hours I have to finish every certification, Company Licenses, etc. Does it make any sense? Eh, you've said that we should sign the MoU in Dubai but now they said 'I will get the advance payment from anyone of these countries'. Really?😅😅 Who is that who wanna transfer me?)

For the Quality Approved Certificate, you are requested to contact this legal person in authority immediately and solicit with him and also, comply with him for the Quality Approved Certificate:
(Another new player)

HONKOU Akou Nadege
N° 144 RUE GABA TOKOIN SERMINER
TOKOIN, LOME WEST
EMAIL : honkouakou5@gmail.com
TOGO

He will tell you all the requirements and the cost of the Quality Approved Certificate which as you mmet uo all the requirements and the require fee,he will issue you the Quality Approved Certificate. (Remember, the cost!)

It's our great pleasure to award this Contract to your company and for you to become our Prime Supplier of the products and even any other products we want and as well,for you to take part of our second project.For the samples,kindly contact Mr. Williams Smith and send the sample through him just a very small quantity.He will direct you to send the sample to him.

Once again, we salute you and your company - PT.ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA for winning this Huge Contract Project from our noble company! and good luck to you !!

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Dikan Joel (Chairman)
Foundation of Trade Union (FTU)
Lome,
Togo

All I've done when reading his email was applauding them👏👏👏. And you know? They even forgot to attach these two documents until I ask them to resend the documents😓. Just click on the picture to Zoom in.
(Just read how many documents needed for this contract)
Based on those documents, we can say that they really meant to do the scam. They have a stamp, they printed my Proforma Invoice, stamped and signed it, scanned it, then send back to me together with LOI that seemed to be very valid.

Now, let's contact Mr. HONKOU Akou Nadege for certification. I also asked him why Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) unacceptable in Togo but it's acceptable in most of African countries and the world. Look what he said.

DEAR MEUTIA HALIDA KHAIRANI,

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL MESSAGE TO ME TODAY. FIRSTLY, I WELCOME YOU AND YOUR GOOD FIRM.

YES, I AM THE ONE TO ISSUE YOUR COMPANY THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE. IN THIS REGARDS, I WANT YOUR FULL COOPERATION SO THAT WITHIN THE SPACE OF 2 - 3 DAYS, THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE WILL READY.

THIS QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE IS NEEDED IN TOGO AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO EXPORT YOUR PRODUCTS IN TOGO. THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE WILL BE ATTACHED ON THE PROFORMA INVOICE WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO FOUNDATION TOGETHER WITH THE SIGNED AND LEGALIZED CONTRACT AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS BEFORE THEY WILL SUBMIT IT TO THEIR BANK.

WITHOUT THIS QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE, GOVERNMENT WILL CEASE THEIR MONEY CLAIMING THE WANT TO TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO THEIR FOREIGN ACCOUNTS. ALSO, THE NUMBER OF THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE WILL USED TO SELL THE GOODS IN TOGO AND ACROSS OUR REGION.YOU WILL BE FREE TO TRANSACT IN TOGO WITHI THIS QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE.
(Government right? OK, let me asked their government)

I BELIEVE YOU ARE OKAY NOW.THE NUMBER OF THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE WILL BE PUT ON THE CONTAINER EACH SHIPMENT YOU WILL EXPORT TO FTU AND IN THE DOCUMENTS YOU WILL SEND TO THEM FOR THE SHIPMENTS.
(The number means MANY)

I WILL NEED SMALL QUANTITY OF THE PRODUCTS. ALSO, YOU HAVE TO SEND A COPY OF YOUR COMPANY'S REGISTRATION IN TOGO. YOU MAY SEND THE SAMPLES THROUGH FTU AND AS THEY RECEIVE THE SAMPLES, THEY WILL BRING THE SAMPLES TO ME.
(Why should we register our company in Togo?)

WHEN I RECEIVE THEM, WILL SEND YOU AN APPLICATION FORM WHICH YOU WILL FILL AND SEND BACK TO ME TOGETHER WITH THE REQUIRE FEE OF THE QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE.

YOURS IN SERVICE,

MR.HONKOU AKOU

I sent an email again to FTU and they replied me to send the sample to Mr. William Smith. It's confusing. I need the certification from Mr. Houkou, and why I give the sample to Mr. Smith? It's just like when I need to register Halal certificate in Indonesia, why should I send the sample of my food to the other party who don't even relate to them. Ok, just following the flow. I sent email (again) to Mr. Smith. Oh Allah, it's really tiring😓 yet exciting😌.

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

Now, it's left for your company to do her part to make sure all the Terms and Conditions of the Contract you shall observe them. That is, all the requirements from your side, you have to do it and provide to them anything which they shall require from your company to do and to provide.

For the sample, you can send any sample of the COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL in HEAGONAL SHAPE and in CUBE SHAPE just 1 per each and send it by FEDEX as below:
(Just 1 each? Really? How to send Only ONE briquette? It's very small and we have to send it to Africa. It'll break apart if it's only one. OK, ONE!)

ATTENTION: MR. JOHN E. OKEBE (MANGER) (I thought 'Manger' is what? Lately I know this is Manager. Typo again. I thought in Bahasa this is Ma-Ger, Malas Gerak means lazy😂😂)
COMPANY: UBIONE INVESTMENT COMPANY (This is Mr. Smith office)
ADDRESS: 124 RUE DE ANIHOE
TELEPHONE: +22 8 90 85 10 18
CITY: LOME
COUNTRY: TOGO

As soon as you send out the sample by FEDEX, give me the tracking number.

Regards to the extra $20 / Ton which I added on top of the prices, it gives the sum of $5 000 000. This is what you shall, as you receive your payment into your bank account, deduct the $5 000 000 from the payment. Then from the $5 000 000, deduct all your expenses you do and keep the balance until I advise you shall do with it. I hope you are okay by this idea. Send the sample between today and tomorrow and send me the tracking number.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Smith

I asked DHL who work with Aspenku (a marketplace created by PT. Aplikasi Penunjang Ekonomi Nasional owned by Mr. Rachmat) about the shipping cost to Togo. It's only one million rupiahs but I don't want to pay anything to support them. Then I remembered I have an email account from Italy that I've created to bypassed the server (I am an IT Woman by the way). I sent the email to FTU.
So, this FTU replied me with the good will. I once intended to bypass Mr. Smith, but well I don't have time to play around again.

My CEO then asked the fellow suppliers how to send the sample with lowest cost. They suggest us to send it via Diaspora (a community in Indonesia) who travel there. We don't give the sample to Diaspora. I have contacted the Indonesia Embassy in Nigeria (Indonesia only have one embassy in West Africa) to asked about the Certification.
After I got a lot of information, I replied to Mr. Smith first.

Dear Mr. William Smith,

Today I've checked the shipping cost to Togo from Indonesia via FEDEX and it was so expensive. It's about $350 per kg so I thought it's not worthy.

Then I contacted the Indonesia - Nigeria Embassy in our country if there's any of their team member will go back to Africa within this week? And the good news is, there's a member of the consulate going back to Nigeria this weekend. So I have given him the sample you've requested, they will bring it to Nigeria, and they will send to Togo via local post. It reduces the shipping cost for almost 80%.

If there's any restriction sending the charcoal to Togo, our consulate will contact any embassy in Togo such as U.S. Embassy for the documentation needed. I also have given your contact to the consulate and the address of MR. JOHN E. OKEBE (MANGER). If they have arrived and send you the package, I will let you know.

Thank you.
Warm Regards,
-- 
Meutia Halida Khairani

And then Mr. Honkou...

Dear MR.HONKOU AKOU,

I have given my product sample to Indonesia - Nigeria Embassy representative who will go back to Nigeria this weekend. Once they arrived to Nigeria, they will send the sample to FTU via local post.

About the Quality Approve Certificate and Our Company Registration in Togo, I have asked our Consulate to help to proceed it because the product sample is now with them. So it's OK, they will take care it for us. Once our consulate go back to Nigeria, they will contact any embassy in Togo such as U.S. Embassy for the documentation needed. I also have given your contact to them, wether they would contact you.

Thank you again for your help.

Sincerely,
Meutia Halida Khairani

After I sent them a message, I slept. I know it'd be more exciting in the Shubuh. When I woke up, like I guessed before. I got 3 emails from them and all of them so funny🤣🤣🤣. I will post my reply to them for the last time, following the email they've sent to me.

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

I got your mail with annoyance today. I'm not happy with you at all today. (So what if you're not happy?) How could you contact your Consulate and handed the sample to them to bring to us? Where were they before and they didn't find and get any Contract for your company? (The consulate duty is not to look for the contract but to facilitate)

We finished our meeting this evening involving : FTU, the lawyer and myself regards to this. At the meeting, we concluded that if your company does not stop your Consulate from this Contract Project, FTU shall remove your company's name from the Contract Project and then, re-award it to another company immediately. (Uh, wow!)

If you don't stop them and collect back the sample from them, if they contact us for the sample, we shall ignore them either they shall use the sample or, they shall send it back to your company.

FTU and the lawyer are capable to handle any documents that shall be required for the exportation and importation of the Charcoal for your information. It's FTU shall buy and see the Charcoal and not your Consulate.

The lawyer said that, you have instructed your Consulate to do both the registration of your company and to obtain the Quality Approved Certificate for your company. It's better for you to stop them right now or, FTU shall cancel the Contract and therefore, award it to another company. You have told that many companies are interested on this Contract and finally, it was awarded to your company and now, you want to hand everything to your Consulate. (Yeah, I trusted my Consulate beyond all of your bluffing).

It's the lawyer shall do the registration for your company and he is the one to get the Quality Approved Certificate for your company. All the documentations regard to this Contract, it's the lawyer shall handle it and no other person. So, if you are not okay for this, forget this Contract.

I have told you that, the extra $20 / Ton I added on top of the prices gives: $5, 000, 000. I told you that, you shall do all the expenses and when you receive your payment, you have to deduct the $5,000, 000 from the payment. Then, from the $5, 000, 000, deduct all your expenses and keep the balance. (Why don't you transfer me first?)

So, any expenses you shall do, record it down and when you receive your payment, deduct all the expenses from the $5, 000, 000 and keep the balance. If you are not okay by this, leave this Contract so that, it can be awarded to another company. I need your urgent confirmation as you get this mail.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Smith

Then this is my reply, sya-la-la-la🎶🎶

Dear Mr. William Smith,

Hey, easy man. My consulate just bring the sample as you requested. Is it wrong? It's really weird that you asked me to stop my consulate to obtain the Quality Approved Certificate and Company Registration for my company legally as a requirement from FTU. My consulate has contacted the U.S. Embassy lawyer in Togo about this certificate, and you should have known what is their answer. Here in Indonesia, we also have the corporate lawyer so we've known every detail what is the duty of lawyer.

You have told me that, the extra $20 / Ton added on top of the prices to cover all our expenses and keep the balance. Then why don't you just transfer it first to my company bank account? So we can cover the expenses. We just want my Consulate to facilitate us to overcome a very high shipping cost and the certifications requested. What's the problem with it?

I've handed over your email address, the addresses you gave me to send the sample also your address and contact, the Contract, all of them to my consulate, and they've forwarded it to the Government of Togo, and the U.S. Embassy in Togo. My Consulate also facilitate me contact the government in Togo via https://www.republicoftogo.com/. It takes 1 business day to got a reply from your government. You should've known what the reply is.

If you asked me to forget this contract, then I can't even forget. With the weirdness, how could I forget it? I will remember this forever.

Very Warm Regards,

OK now, let's read the email from Mr. Honkou. The Subject is : FOR YOUR INFORMATION! Wow, scary~

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

I received your email in the afternoon and I was not happy with you.You let me down. (Huhuhu so sad😢, how could the lawyer be this emotional and dramatic?😂) I'm here for you and your company but you have the audocity to hand my legal duty to your Consulate to handle for your company. How can it happen like that? It's not possible !

Instead of your company to hand the Contract to your Consulate,it's better you forfait this Contract. That is, it better your company loses this Contract.Don't try to send any sample through your Consulate at all ! Also, don't attempt to ask your Consulate to do the registration of your company in Togo and to obtain the Quality Approved Certificate for your company.

If you insist not to stop them, let them not dare contact me. If they try to contact me, I shall not respond or reply to them until the end of this world (The Legal Department said Until the end of the world? WAKOAWAKOAK🤣🤣). I'm capable to handle any documents concerning this Contract.

I advise you to go and collect back the sample from them and tell them not to contact any of us at all.I'm here for your company till you receive your full advance payment into your bank account and do the supply of the products to FTU.

If you don't agree with me, stop writing to me again.

Yours in service,

Mr. HONKOU Akou

I copied and pasted this email to my team and they bullied it even until now🤣. Oh come on, until the end of the world? I will love you maybe🎶. Ok, here's my reply.

Dear Mr. Honkou,

My consulate already has the sample. They also already contact the U.S Embassy in Togo asking about the Company Registration and 'the number of' Quality Approved Certificate that you've requested. You said that we have only 48 hours to issue the certificate, so Me and My Consulate really need to hurry right?

You've said "WITHOUT THIS QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE, GOVERNMENT WILL CEASE THEIR MONEY CLAIMING THE WANT TO TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO THEIR FOREIGN ACCOUNTS." My consulate has facilitated me to contact the government in Togo via https://www.republicoftogo.com/ asking about your statement. It takes 1 business day to got a reply from your government. You should've known what the reply is.

I've handed over your email address, your name, to my consulate, and they've forwarded it to the Government of Togo, and the U.S. Embassy in Togo. If you will not respond or reply to them until the end of this world, then they will visit you soon. If you're not at home, then they will look for you... until the end of world.

YEAY I'm so excited!

Warm Regards,

Now let's read the email from the Chairman. Even though I was not send him an email.

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

We just concluded our meeting this evening with the lawyer and Mr. Williams Smith concerning your action and your company.

According to Mr. HONKOU Akou and Mr. Williams Smith, they told us that your have handed everything to your Consulate both in Togo and in Nigeria to handle this Contract Project for your company by giving them samples to bring to Mr. Williams Smith and for them to do the registration of your company in Togo and as well as to get the Quality Approved Certificate for your company. If this is true, we will not proceed with your company for this Contract. We will coancel this Contract with your company and reaward it to another company.

Where was your Consulate to get your company a Contract Project like this one? Unless you stop them immediately before we can proceed with your company if not,we will cancel the Contract and then,reaward it to another company. (They don't even know what is the function of a Consulate)

We just finish our meeting with the lawyer and Mr. Williams Smith and we are sure they will write to you as well when they get to their offices.We don't want any delay.It's better you don't send the sample at all instead of your company to hand everything to your Consulate.We don't agree this and will not accept it at all.

We want your urgent reply as soon as you get this mail that you have stopped your Consulate.If not,when they contact us, we will not respond to them at all.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Dikan Joel (Chairman)
Foundation of Trade Union (FTU)
Lome,
Togo

Another man who scares. Ok, let me reply.

Dear Dr. Dikan Joel,

It's really weird. My consulate JUST bring the sample as you requested. Is it wrong? The regulation in our country stated that a huge amount of contract must be known by the Consulate of the Country we wanted to do business. Also we have to contact the ITPC (Indonesia Trade Promotion Center) in Africa. The good news is, their headquarter is in Nigeria and they're always sharing information with every U.S Embassy in West Africa countries. It is just a usual thing we've done in this export-import business and you have a problem with it?

But it's OK. I've handed over your email address, your stamp and signed LOI, the Proforma Invoice, all to my consulate, and they've forwarded it to the Government of Togo, and the U.S. Embassy in Togo. My consulate facilitated me contact the government in Togo via https://www.republicoftogo.com/. It takes 1 business day to got a reply from your government. You should've known what the reply is.

I'm looking forward to any information collected by our consulate. Please pray for them so they have a safe flight back to Nigeria and bringing the sample you've requested.

Sincerely,

After all of those emails, they never reply me again. It seems empty when I woke up to pray Shubuh, there's no email from them which makes me laugh hard😂. I have reported them to the interpol, to their government, to Indonesia embassy in Nigeria, to U.S embassy in Togo, and some other parties. Let them do the rest. I hope there's no victim.

Lesson learned from this:
  1. Don't ever trust any SUPER HUGE contract with only an email. If they really wanted to do business with you, they'll visit you and call you immediately just like the buyers who contacted my company.
  2. Don't ever transfer anything. Even it's only for the certification.
  3. Stalking is a must. Just open Google then find them.
  4. Always asking to the fellow exporters, ITPC, or our Consulate in the country we want to do business. They have so many information needed by us.
  5. Just follow their play so you will know which part they will ask money from you.
  6. Also, follow your common sense, your feeling.
If there's anything I can help, just drop the comment. I hope these posts from me will warn you that so many cyber scammers nowadays. 

May Allah subhanahu wata'ala always protect us from the bad people...💕

November 12, 2022

West Africa Export-Import Scam Part 2

Before reading this Part Two, I suggest you to read Part One just by clicking the link below:


Ok, this time I would discuss the fantastic contract (of course fake) he gave me. I will directly give the comment using the colored green text.

Payment Terms and Contract Terms and Conditions (they named it)

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

How are you doing today? I hope you are fine and doing very well. I'm fine and doing very well from my side. Thanks for your mail with the content noted.

I wish to let you know you that I have finally, submitted the prices of the product: BRIQUETTE : COCONUT SHELL CHARCOA to the company by name, Foundation of Trade Union (FTU).
(Typo Charcoa. Is the contract can be typo? If you look into this contract carefully, you'll find so many typo)

It took me a very long time before I was able to convince them to collect the prices from me, because, they feared that your company may not be able to obtain a Quality Approved Certificate in Togo and also, to sign and legalize their Original Contract Agreement Documents which shall grant and warrant the transfer of your advance payment into your bank account. So, because there are so many companies lined up for this Contract project, I assured them you shall do everything that shall be required from you and even to do it on time. Finally, they collected the prices from me and released their Payment Terms and Contract Terms and Conditions to me for you to go through and confirm to them before they shall know whether to approve the prices or not.
(Quality Approved Certificate is one of the main BIG problem here)

I added the extra $20 /MT on top of the prices before I submitted the prices to them. If they approve the prices and award the Contract to your company, I shall tell you what you shall do with it. Kindly call me as you receive this mail for us to discuss okay. (I didn't call him, what for?)

Payment Terms and Contract Terms and Conditions:
    1. We, Foundation of Trade Union (FTU), the buyer of the products as - BRIQUETTE COCONUT SHELL CHARCOA (typo again). as under mentioned:
  1. COCO BRIQUETTE : COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL - $1520 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $76 000 000
  2. COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL - $1220 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $61 000 000
  3. COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Silver) - $1420 / Ton Qty. 50 000 Tons = $71 000 000
  4. COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Gold°   - $1520 / Tons Qty. 50 O00 Tons = $76 000 000
  5. COCO BRIQUETTE: COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL (Diamond) - $1620 / Tons Qty.50 000 Tons = $81 000 000
Total Contract Order : 250 000 Tons for the period of 3 years.

Contract Amount: $365 000 000.(Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Million United States Dollars only).
(He said $365 000 000 in ONLY, Wow!😱)

confirm to make your payment by t/t in advance. We will transfer your first 70% advance payment into your bank account within 48 hours after your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA has completed all our Contract Terms & Conditions / Requirements / Formalities to enable your company starts the production of the Products.
(Is it too fast and too good to be true?)

2. We will transfer the balance of the 30% into your bank account as soon as you confirm that, the first shipment is ready to be shipped to enable your company commences the shipment.
(I have already asked them how many MT or containers for the first shipment but they didn't seem to understand. Of course they didn't)

3. Note that, without your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA - completes all our Contract Terms & Conditions / Requirements / Formalities, there will be no payment to be transferred to your company. This is because, all the documents and Certificates that are required from your company must be submitted to our bank for your FOREIGN EXCHANGE ALLOCATIONS and payment approval prior transfer into your bank account.
(Noted, all the documents and certificates, OK?)
    
4. The Contract Terms & Conditions / Requirements / Formalities here include the followings :
  •  a. Signing & Legalizing our Original Contract Agreement Documents in one of these three (3) countries: Togo, Netherlands or Dubai only. That is, it's after your company has obtained a QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE, SIGNED & LEGALIZED our Original Contract Agreement in one of the three countries mentioned before we will transfer your first 70% Advance Payment into your bank account.
(QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE again? And Signing & Legalizing our Original Contract Agreement Documents in one of these three (3) countries: Togo, Netherlands or Dubai only? I thought that I can fly to Dubai for vacation if this contract were true😆😆).

  • b. Presentation of the products' physical samples. Your company has to present physical sample of the products before we will transfer your advance payment into your bank account.
(Where to present? I asked them to schedule the online meeting but they never wanted to. Lately I know, they asked us to send the sample, not to present like giving presentation) 

  • c. Presentation of Quality Approved Certificate obtained from here in Togo. That is, your company (PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA) MUST obtain a Quality Approved Certificate in Togo which will be attached on the Proforma Invoice you will issue to us and together with the Signed & Legalized Original Contract Agreement Documents prior submission to our bank for your Foreign Exchange Allocations and your Payment Transfer into your bank account which you will nominate or provide. This means that without you obtain the QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE, NO PAYMENT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR COMPANY.
(QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE again!)

  • d. A Copy of Your Signed Payment Release Order Note (YSPRON). (I never knew what is this?)    
5. You have to make first shipment between 45 days minimum and 60 days maximum after the receipt of your full advance payment into your bank account.
(How many containers? They never answer, yeah because they don't know)   

6. The Port of discharge : Lomé Sea Port, Togo.(but FOB is also, acceptable).

7.  Contract Duration - 36 Months.(Then, there must be a clause on the Agreement that, when there is an increase in prices, PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA has to notify our company to transfer the balance to your company till you finish the supply the quantity we require).
(I thought they would lock the price so if there's any increase, they don't suffer for the price difference) 

8. Quantity required: 250 000 MT.

9. Your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA , has a Legal Right to sue our company / firm (Foundation of Trade Union - FTU) to a law court and make claims of both liquid and material damages if after 48 hours PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA has completed all our Contract Terms & Conditions as already stated on the above but, Foundation Of Trade Union delays to transfer your advance payment into your bank account which your company will nominate or provide to us.

10.Likewise, our firm - FOUNDATION OF TRADE UNION (FTU) has the legal right to sue PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA to a court and make claims of both liquid and material damages if after transferring your full advance payment into your bank account but, your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA . fails to supply our firm accurate quantity and quality of the goods agreed upon. (Honestly, I don't understand)

11. Regards to how you will apply and get the Quality Approved Certificate, you will be directed to apply and obtain it as soon as we approve the prices and send our Letter Of Intent (LOI) to you.
(Remember, this certificate again)

May you go through our Contract Terms and Conditions and confirm same to us. Upon your acceptance, we will open up business communications with your company direct. We want to use this medium to inform you we will make your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA . our Prime Supplier of the product. This means we will not import the products from any other company in the world. Also, any other products we may be in need, we have to pass it to your company to do the supplying to us (that is, you can get the supplier, negotiate with them and then, supply the goods to us).

Foundation of Trade Union (FTU).

The above are their Payment Terms and Contract Terms and Conditions for you to go through and confirm too. It shall be a great pleasure for your company to be awarded the Contract Project to.

I hope for your reply as soon as you get this mail. Please, don't delay to reply to me for me to give them feedback. Also, call me as you get this mail for us to discuss on phone.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Smith124 Rue De Anihoe
Tel +22 8 90 85 10 18
Email : ubione2@hotmail.com
Togo

I replied him and asked again and again about the meeting to discuss this contract. How could this fantastic contract never being discussed by both companies? 

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

Thanks for your mail. I shall call you for us to discuss when you have given your positive confirmation on the Contract Terms and Conditions.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Smith

Urgh, I was annoyed😡, but still stay calm😇. The thing that confusing again is the Confirmation Letter. What is that? I have never heard about that. Then I asked my team, we googled it and found an example of the letter.


After I submit this letter, I slept. When I woke up for Shubuh praying, I read the reply, an unusual and weird reply like before😅😅😅😅😅😅😅.

Dear Meutia Halida Khairani,

How are you doing today? I hope you are fine and doing very great. I'm fine too and doing very well.

GOOD NEWS !  GOOD NEWS !!    GOOD NEWS !!!

This is really good news! We have made it despite all the struggles and challenges I passed through since yesterday till today. At the end, victory is ours. I'm very happy to share this wonderful Good News with you and your company. Foundation of Trade Union, FTU has approved your prices and therefore, awarded the Contract Project to your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA to supply them the below mentioned Products and quantity per each item for the period of 3 years. Prepare the Proforma Invoice and send to them. This is a very huge Contract and so, your company has to comply with them by following their guidelines and instructions in order to avoid making any mistakes.

They request you to use their full contact details below to prepare the Proforma Invoice and send it to them for them to go through it before they shall approve the Invoice. See their full contact details below and use it and prepare the Invoice and send it to them after you have signed and stamped the Invoice:

Foundation of Trade Union (FTU)
Attn:  Dr. Dikan Joel (Chairman)
Add : N°. 225, Bvd. 13, Janvier,
BP: 13870, Lome Centrale Ville,
Tel: +228 220 72 69,
Direct: +228 90 04 40 87,
Fax: +228 220 72 699,
Lome-TOGO,
Email: ftutg1980@yahoo.com,ftutg1980@homail.com

But before you shall send the Proforma Invoice to them, I want you to prepare the Invoice, sign and stamp it and send it to me first to go through it before you can send it to them. I hope when you send the Proforma Invoice to them and after they approve it then, they shall tell you the next thing you shall do. I want you to comply with them for the smooth and easy running and execution of this Contract.

I shall tell you what you shall do with the extra $20 as soon as they approve the Invoice you shall send to them. I want your company to give them maximum cooperation they need in the execution of this Contract. It was not easy for me at all today because, so many people submitted their own prices on this Contract Project and they wanted to award the Contract to another company as they fear that your company may disappoint them because of the QUALITY APPROVED CERTIFICATE and the SIGNING OF THE ORGINAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS and as well as the samples. I told them that your company is waiting for them to approve their prices for you to start immediately. Then, they agreed to approve the prices and finally, awarded the Contract to your company - PT. ORGANIK SEJAHTERA INDONESIA.

I hope to receive the Invoice from you so that, I can go through it before you shall send it to them. You send them the CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS ACCEPTANCE LETTER now and immediately.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Smith
Ubione Investment Company
124 Rue De Anihoe
Tel: +22 8 90 85 10 18
Email: ubione2@hotmail.com
Lome, Togo​​

I read this email and laughing😂. How could this Mr. Smith really excited with all those lies? Maybe because he'll get the $20 for each kg and for 250 000MT, he will get ONLY $5 million😪.

The thing must be finished first was to stalk them. I asked my team in my company 'Rancupid' to look for any information about them. We googled their address, their names, their phone numbers, and the result is nothing. How could a Chairman of a Trading Company never be written even a word at the internet? We even stalked Lome on the instagram, the address, the Restaurant, the Hotel near their address, and retrieved nothing about their company.

My CEO at PT. Organik Sejahtera Indonesia once said, her friend of the family (just named him Rudi) has ever gotten a contract like this and everything was gone very smooth. Rudi said he was also being invited to the Middle East country (I forget either Saudi Arabia or Qatar) to sign the MoU and the flight ticket, the hotel, those all free. Wow, I really wanted that condition, Vacation to Dubai😎, but my common sense said otherwise. 

When in doubt, I called Ms. Mila, a team member of Mr. Nursyamsu (an exporter and practitioner from Indonesia, a CEO, a business owner) who always works with my company before. I told her this condition and she told me to be aware. I asked so many questions about Mr. Nursyamsu's experiences in signing MoU, in export to Africa, about the consulate, and so on. Has he ever gone to another country to sign a MoU? And the answer is no. "Just follow their flow Kak, so we all will know." OK, for sure. "Also if something happen, just contact us or our consulate so we can work together to handle this." 
Hmm, the game is getting very exciting, right?

While I was stalking, I found a very relate website

Then comes the purpose of the scam.
You will be asked to pay various never-ending fees for a (fake) barrister to represent you in their country, product registration, import license, health certificate etc.., all accompanied by realistic looking documents. If you pay, a request for a new document will follow for an even higher fee. These can be a few thousand dollars to upwards of $30,000. As with all advance fee fraud, if you balk at paying, they may lower the fee by offering to pay part of it themselves.

Payment may be requested via Western Union or Money Gram, but also through bank transfers. Please read: Western Union/MoneyGram Indicate Scam!!! and Don't Pay Strangers via Bank to Bank Transfer and Be Cautious Paying with PayPal

Hmm, it seems that I have already got so many proof that they were scammers. I convinced my CEO, my best friend, this has to be ended. I will follow every step they're asking, and when the time come, let's finish this, DUARR!!! 

Bismillah...
“HasbunAllah wani’mal wakil, ni’mal mawla wani’man nasiir.” Allah is the best helper and there cannot be anyone better than Him.

To be continued to Part 3....

Follow me

My Trip