Some issues are too good to be true.
A 46-year-old fan of native star Romeo Tan misplaced $5,500 after chatting on-line with an individual claiming to be the Mediacorp actor.
The sufferer’s sister, an auditor surnamed Yan, not too long ago instructed Lianhe Zaobao that her sister had been chatting with the impersonator on a number of platforms since December final 12 months and had transferred cash to the impersonator thrice.
Screenshots of their WhatsApp chat messages confirmed the scammer saying he needed to marry the sufferer in New York, however she wanted to switch $three,000 to pay for a wedding certificates.
The scammer even despatched a photograph of them touching their fingertips to make a “blood oath” and inspired her to do the identical, saying, “This isn’t a sport, it’s a must to hold our promise.”
After proposing that they keep in New York and purchase her a diamond ring and a luxurious automobile, they instructed her to shell out a further $2,000 so the “agent” might apply for a allow and purchase her a airplane ticket.
It did not cease there. After contacting the “agent,” the scammer requested him to buy greater than $2,000 value of gaming playing cards.
After she instructed them that the playing cards on the comfort retailer had been out of inventory and that some shops had stopped promoting them on account of frequent scams, they instantly despatched her the addresses of a number of shops that also had the merchandise in inventory.
She was additionally taught to inform gross sales workers that the playing cards had been for her kids in the event that they requested.
Each time she hesitated, the scammer introduced up his blood vow and instructed her that if she was actually in love, he would purchase the playing cards.
The sufferer’s household found what was occurring after she tried to borrow cash from Yan.
Yan additionally found that her sister had not solely misplaced $three,000 in “marriage certificates charges” but additionally $2,500 in “membership charges,” consuming virtually all the sufferer’s financial savings.
Yan known as the police on her sister’s behalf, including that the latter is now investigating the rip-off.
He added that his sister usually leaves feedback on Romeo’s posts on his official Fb web page and a few accounts impersonating him would reply to her feedback. She believes that is how the scammer discovered her sister.
In line with Yan, the sufferer works part-time and is mentally unstable, and didn’t consider her household once they instructed her she had been scammed.
“These scammers solely go after people who find themselves susceptible, simple to idiot and easily unable to guard themselves. The individuals most straight affected are their households. I hope Romeo Tan, as a public determine, can handle his Fb web page appropriately.” Yan commented.
‘I might by no means ask for cash’
Romeo, 38, posted on Fb final week, stating that he not too long ago acquired a number of rip-off alerts about individuals impersonating him on Fb and Instagram.
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“I need to remind everybody to be vigilant and conscious that I’ll by no means ask my followers for cash or recommend that they meet for a personal meal. I’m deeply sorry for anybody who has been affected by this,” he wrote, including that he’ll . disable or prohibit the feedback part in your accounts.
After seeing Romeo’s clarification, the sufferer approached Zaobao and instructed him that she now is aware of that she was deceived and that she regrets sending the cash to the scammer.
“I had a video name with the scammer and he regarded very stiff when he spoke. I have been a fan of Romeo for over 10 years and I did not count on (the web particular person) to be a liar.”
This isn’t the primary time that Romeo has been impersonated in scams.
In 2020, he revealed that somebody had taken his video clips and added his personal voice over them to ask a Thai netizen for $1,300.
The web person didn’t know who Romeo was and spoke to the impersonator for seven months earlier than turning into suspicious once they requested him for cash.
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syarifahsn@asiaone.com