Energy ... and a SCAM
Building Improvement for Energy Efficiency

Dialog on financing projects with Matt Patterson of the E&I Investment Group

Burgess COMMENTARY
This all started with a connection message on LinkedIn ... a normally reliable social media platform.

But, it turns out that this is a well orchestrated SCAM. I was not able to obtain any validation of the claims being made by 'Matt Peterson' getting only the simplistic response 'send the business plan'. When it turns out that all the details are going to be 'filled in' after we have travelled to the Middle East, I was pretty sure this was a scam. When I researched the email address and could find nothing of substance AND the major firm Emaar was warning of scams, I was 100% sure of the SCAM.

I have been exposed to scams originating in West Africa. The Nigerian 419 scam is well known, but there are others that are very similar to the scam identified here. The critical step is to get the person physically in the country where money becomes necessary every step of the way to eventual ... but never to happen ... funding.

Thanks to the major company Emaar for their part in making this scam visible. Thanks.
Peter Burgess

LinkedIn
Matt Patterson has sent you a message.
Date: 2/04/2013
Subject: investment funding

Thank you for connecting me on Linkedin. I am from E & I Investment Group. We are located here in Dubai UAE.I have gone through your profile and believe we have a lot in common which we can achieve.i am open to having a good business relationship with you.

The business cooperation we are looking at is Investment funding.We can fund your projects as a soft loan at 4% ROI for up to a period of 15 years if desired.we are currently handling debt financing projects.Do reply if you have need for our investment funding facility for further details.

Regards,

Matt Patterson

Dear Matt,

Thank you for your recent message. I got it about 15 minutes before I had to get engaged in a house move, and was without decent communications (Internet, telephone. etc.) for a few days. I am surfacing again and getting back to a new and better normal.

As you will see from my LinkedIn profile and other material that turns up on the Internet, I have an unusual background ... some engineering, some economics, some corporate management accounting and some project planning and evaluation in both the private and public sector. I 'Articled' with Coopers and Lybrand in London a long time ago!

You have probably figured out that I am way beyond the end of my formal career. However we are in a time where science and progress in some fields gives me great optimism for the future albeit while much of leadership in politics and business gives me nightmares.

My primary 'agenda' is to develop and promote what I call TrueValueMetrics ... a system of Value Accountancy that complements money profit accounting and makes accounting and reporting for social impact routine. Most of the elements are already used in high quality project and investment analysis anyway ... so in some ways it is not such a huge jump into the unknown.

With respect to some form of collaboration with you and the E&I Investment Group ... what might be of most 'value' to you (your company), me (my agenda) and society at large. Can you give me some examples of what might be of interest to you.

I am very much aware that many projects that are modestly profitable but of huge social value are turned down while projects that are more profitable but result in social value destruction get funded. Access to alternative sources of financing can change this. For example there are going to be many initiatives for rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy but few will be done in financed in ways that enable them to be 'built back better' because patient capital is not available. With respect to 'green energy' initiatives in both New Jersey and New York there are interesting incentives that can be available for qualified projects. .

Any thoughts? What would work for you? I have an open mind.

Sincerely

Peter Burgess
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On 01/28/13 8:24 PM, Matt Patterson wrote:
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Dear Peter Burgess ,

Thank you for your reply and interest on our project funding.We are currently funding projects at 4% ROI and we are currently handling debt financing projects.We do not have any major area for funding.We fund projects after the careful study of the business plan to know the exit strategy.We will be interested to fund your project at 4% ROI.Send us an email with your Telephone number for more comprehensive answer by my team.Also send the business plan for review and possible funding.

Email: mathpatterson@emaarinvestmentgroup.org

Regards,

Matt.

On 02/04/13 8:06 PM, Peter Burgess wrote:
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