A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Printable Version +- SG Talk (https://sgtalk.net) +-- Forum: SG Talk (https://sgtalk.net/Forum-SG-Talk) +--- Forum: Market Talk (https://sgtalk.net/Forum-Market-Talk) +--- Thread: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. (/Thread-A-woman-was-approached-in-Chinatown-and-later-told-she-had-%E2%80%9Cbad-luck%E2%80%9D)

A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Bigiron - 07-06-2025 A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. She ended up unwittingly trading S$700 and a gold pendant for a fake ritual and a bag of leaves. 3 women and a man were charged with carrying out what's now being called a "blessings" scam: https://cna.asia/3TfTmXi RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Bigiron - 07-06-2025 Title: Four accused of duping woman out of her belongings in 'blessings' scam   Source: CNA, https://cna.asia/3TfTmXi, 2025-06-06   Author: Not specified   Article Summary:   Theme: A "blessings" scam in Singapore where victims are tricked into surrendering valuables for fake religious rituals.   Core Points:   - Three women and one man, all Chinese nationals, were charged with cheating. - The scam involved approaching victims, claiming they had bad luck, and then performing a fake ritual in exchange for money and valuables. - At least two victims were targeted. One in Chinatown lost S$700 and a gold necklace with a Guan Yin pendant, replaced with leaves after a ritual. Another in Clementi lost S$700. - Police recovered the victim's gold necklace, S$1,311, and 10,050 Chinese yuan (US$1,400). - The police are investigating whether there are more victims and accomplices. - Police advise the public to be wary of strangers offering spiritual help and to report suspicious approaches immediately.   Phenomenon: The article highlights a specific type of scam preying on vulnerable individuals by exploiting their beliefs and superstitions. The perpetrators skillfully manipulate the victims into believing they need spiritual cleansing, creating a sense of urgency and fear that leads to the surrender of valuables. The use of a seemingly legitimate religious context adds to the deception's effectiveness. RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Bigiron - 07-06-2025 The scammers used a multi-stage approach combining manipulation and deception:   1. Initial Approach and Establishing Trust: The scam began with an innocent-seeming interaction. One scammer would approach the victim, feigning a need for directions or engaging in casual conversation. This builds a sense of comfort and lowers the victim's guard.   2. Introducing the Problem (and the "Solution"): Another scammer would then intervene, claiming knowledge of a "problem" the victim is experiencing—in this case, "bad luck" or "negative spiritual elements." This creates a sense of vulnerability and desperation, making the victim receptive to a solution.   3. Offering a "Spiritual Remedy": A third scammer, posing as a spiritual healer or physician, is introduced. They present themselves as someone who can solve the problem, further leveraging the victim's fear and anxiety.   4. The Ritual and Exchange: The victim is then convinced to participate in a ritual, often involving handing over money or valuables. The ritual itself is a sham, designed to create a sense of legitimacy and urgency.   5. The Switch and Escape: The scammer(s) perform the ritual, secretly switching the valuables for something worthless (leaves in one instance). This happens quickly and discreetly, leaving the victim to discover the deception later.   6. Additional Tactics: The scammers in the Clementi incident employed a slightly different tactic: They directly noticed cash and proposed a "safekeeping" scheme rather than a blessing ritual. This shows adaptability in their approach, targeting the victim's concern for their belongings' security.   Overall Tactics: The scammers used a combination of:   - Ingratiation: Building rapport and trust through seemingly harmless interactions. - Fear-mongering: Creating anxiety and a sense of urgency by highlighting negative consequences. - Authority: Projecting an image of expertise and authority (spiritual healer, physician). - Distraction: Employing quick and subtle actions to perform the switch undetected. - Manipulation: Exploiting the victim's beliefs and fears.   The success of the scam relies on a carefully orchestrated sequence of events designed to bypass the victim's rational judgment and exploit their emotional vulnerabilities. RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Bigiron - 07-06-2025 RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Ola - 07-06-2025 The man is Huang Ximing, 61, and the women are Zhong Weifeng, 58, Huang Qinyan, 47, and Huang Meiling, 56. All four are Chinese nationals. --------------------------------------------- Wah phiang! They came under Visa- Free visit to scam people? ICA under Sham is like that RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - revealer - 07-06-2025 Was hoping not Chinese nationals when I was about to read. RE: A woman was approached in Chinatown and later told she had “bad luck”. - Omnipresent88 - 07-06-2025 If they don't scam then I worry hor https://media.tenor.com/CFVIVCpjT9MAAAAM/lololol-laugh.gif