Scam Alerts : Grindr + Love + Massage + Job + Online + Loan + Gov Call Scam (compiled)

[thickhead79]

if u are not rich how u get scammed

[drektster]

it happens a few months back. My youtrip was hacked and the scammers behind brought itune with it. i call youtrip and apple. apple decided to refund and cancelled the account of which did the transaction. Youtrip and Apple confirm that the transaction is done locally in Singapore. I did not make a police report but i have youtrip send me a card with a different number. I am not an IT expert, but could this means that Singapore is also a scammer hub too?

I am not sure which local bank which Youtrip transacted with. I hope the banks has much stronger security system.

[sgmaven]

Errr... If you are so "interested" in this matter, why didn't you report this incident to the police?

[Guest Unagi]

2 hours ago, sgmaven said:

Errr... If you are so "interested" in this matter, why didn't you report this incident to the police?

Maybe he just need attentions or he thinks members and guests here know IT or all are police.

[keyboard]

On 11/5/2022 at 10:49 AM, drektster said:

it happens a few months back. My youtrip was hacked and the scammers behind brought itune with it. i call youtrip and apple. apple decided to refund and cancelled the account of which did the transaction. Youtrip and Apple confirm that the transaction is done locally in Singapore. I did not make a police report but i have youtrip send me a card with a different number. I am not an IT expert, but could this means that Singapore is also a scammer hub too?

I am not sure which local bank which Youtrip transacted with. I hope the banks has much stronger security system.

I don't think we can call Singapore a scammer hub because there's obviously some countries that "openly" turn blind eyes to certain activities.

 

I'm not sure how youtrip work. If it's just a normal old fashioned (without 2FA) credit card, it's not too difficult to acquire leaked/hacked list of cards and then "purchase" things though it. If it's a user account, it could be something else of yours got leaked/hacked and you are using the same password for youtrip.

 

"Cheating" in Singapore is not uncommon, it's not worth reporting unless it's a big sum of money, neither is the punishment for the crime that serious. When done locally, it could mean the IP address is local/VPN, or the itune card is brought from a store (like 7-eleven). The person buying it could be working for a "scammer" who tricks the person to make purchases online etc (tons of youtube videos on the modus operandi of scammers).

 

Do not count on banks to secure your money. In this case, you got leaked/hacked and really it's not the bank's fault. Best part is, even if they caught the person (in Singapore), there's no need to reinstitute your losses. E.g. Your bank Password is the same as another account, they cloned your phone number to receive your 2FA. By using this combination, all the money can be transferred out of your bank account and it's not the bank's responsibility. It will just be another sophisticated scam/hack and case closed.

[Guest Frequent traveler]

Just wanted to share that this scamming method is still happening in Taipei today. I honestly never heard about such scams until personally encountering it today. The moment this unknown person called me and asked me to buy don't know what credit from family mart, i suspected it to be a scam but wasnt 100% sure so I told him too much hassle and a normal massage parlour won't need such weird request. This person then sounded very impatient, then I just said sorry no mood for massage anymore and blocked him. Then I google this and found this topic here. So thought I share so that everyone knows such scams is still on going.  

[Steve5380]

On 7/12/2022 at 11:53 PM, fab said:

People are just doing their jobs.

 

Be kind.

 

LO LO LOL LOL   Is this the teaching of The Buddha? 

 

Seniors my age are especially vulnerable to scams.   90% of the phone calls I receive are scams.  Among the infinite mail messages I get there are scams too.  

 

Here is where I find justified pestering the BW readers with so many videos with recommendations on how to avoid dementias, Alzheimer's when older.  A sharp, clear mind is still a necessity today, like it was a sharp sword centuries ago.

[Guest U Wrong!]

8 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

Seniors my age are especially vulnerable to scams.   90% of the phone calls I receive are scams.  Among the infinite mail messages I get there are scams too.  

 

Here is where I find justified pestering the BW readers with so many videos with recommendations on how to avoid dementias, Alzheimer's when older.  A sharp, clear mind is still a necessity today, like it was a sharp sword centuries ago.

Scammers avoid targeting people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease because they are simply "too dumbed" to move an inch to fall for a hoax.   The true victims are those who are very avaricious, easily intimidated into submission, overly arrogant, and overly credulous; these traits are not related to age, but rather to a person's unique perspective and attitude.  Regrettably, as people age, most older people have this mindset of losing out, which works against them and makes them an easy target for predators.   I hope you're not myopic and can see the bigger picture painted here.

[Steve5380]

1 hour ago, Guest U Wrong! said:

Scammers avoid targeting people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease because they are simply "too dumbed" to move an inch to fall for a hoax.   The true victims are those who are very avaricious, easily intimidated into submission, overly arrogant, and overly credulous; these traits are not related to age, but rather to a person's unique perspective and attitude.  Regrettably, as people age, most older people have this mindset of losing out, which works against them and makes them an easy target for predators.   I hope you're not myopic and can see the bigger picture painted here.

 

If you follow my advise about preserving your mental capacity,  you will realize that scammers are not always strangers, but often they are members of the family.   One very common way seniors lose their estate is by intervention of unscrupulous members of their family who want to get hold of the estate of the senior. So they convince the senior to hand them over their money. And if the senior has a principle of dementia,  the malignant family member will have the senior declared incompetent and placed under his/her custody.  They send the senior to a nursing home, and take possession of the senior's goods.

[singalion]

On 7/18/2024 at 11:24 PM, Guest Frequent traveler said:

Just wanted to share that this scamming method is still happening in Taipei today. I honestly never heard about such scams until personally encountering it today. The moment this unknown person called me and asked me to buy don't know what credit from family mart, i suspected it to be a scam but wasnt 100% sure so I told him too much hassle and a normal massage parlour won't need such weird request. This person then sounded very impatient, then I just said sorry no mood for massage anymore and blocked him. Then I google this and found this topic here. So thought I share so that everyone knows such scams is still on going.  

 

Thanks for sharing, but what was the scam?

 

You booked a massage and then the guy called you to pay something at a  Family Mart?

 

It would be more helpful to others to describe what actually happened.

 

 

[singalion]

But looking back the past 3 years, even in a tightly controlled Singapore there seem to be still too many loopholes.

 

These calls from Banks, Changi Hospital, Singtel etc are going on for at least 4 years now.

 

Calling office numbers and then telling your UOB account is blocked (when our company doesn't operate with UOB) ...

The customer service guys when you press for English are mostly unable to speak a single word of proper English.

But it doesn't end.

 

The only thing you learn are the exotic caller numbers from Chile to Vanuatu...

 

The thing I am most disappointed is that the "Do not call directory" doesn't work.

You still get all these crap messages from illegal moneylenders and other fraudsters.

These guys always indicate a local handphone number/ whatsapp. I just don't understand that the authorities can't get their hand on them.

The Spam Act in that sense is a totally toothless tiger.

 

The Phone operators should get some obligation to instantly block any such offenders on first alert.

Any offender should also be immediately blacklisted on the Operators that they can't buy any new numbers.

 

The current regime is simply too weak and gives too much way for scammers to operate here.

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2024 by singalion

[Guest I screamed]

8 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

If you follow my advise about preserving your mental capacity,  you will realize that scammers are not always strangers, but often they are members of the family.

Family conflicts and disagreements came in a variety of shapes and styles.  For example, should you discover you have dementia, wouldn't you want to leave your assets to your surviving kins in order to keep strangers or other outsiders from gaining access to your family's estates?   

 

When someone talks of being conned, it's usually by strangers who tricked them into giving up all of their life's savings.  Although there have been family disputes, they have only occurred in one out of nine instances.   Not only are strangers everywhere on the earth trying to scam you, but even millionaires who profess to be "intelligent" will frequently fall for such a claim. This is why you should always be on the lookout and never let your guard down.  Predators typically target the wealthy rather than the impoverished, unless the latter unintentionally reveal they have connections to someone extremely wealthy. 

 

I was approached by a stranger in the evening a while ago, quite common in Singapore,  asking for my personal information in order to sell me a product.  I immediately yelled at her, letting her know that I don't like people like them.I   I felt horrible afterwards about what I had done; I shouldn't have criticized someone in such a prominent way.  However, what if she was a true con artist who had previously taken advantage of a number of people?   Do you believe I was doing the right thing?

 

 

 

 

 

[Steve5380]

6 hours ago, Guest I screamed said:

Family conflicts and disagreements came in a variety of shapes and styles.  For example, should you discover you have dementia, wouldn't you want to leave your assets to your surviving kins in order to keep strangers or other outsiders from gaining access to your family's estates?   

 

When someone talks of being conned, it's usually by strangers who tricked them into giving up all of their life's savings.  Although there have been family disputes, they have only occurred in one out of nine instances.   Not only are strangers everywhere on the earth trying to scam you, but even millionaires who profess to be "intelligent" will frequently fall for such a claim. This is why you should always be on the lookout and never let your guard down.  Predators typically target the wealthy rather than the impoverished, unless the latter unintentionally reveal they have connections to someone extremely wealthy. 

 

I was approached by a stranger in the evening a while ago, quite common in Singapore,  asking for my personal information in order to sell me a product.  I immediately yelled at her, letting her know that I don't like people like them.I   I felt horrible afterwards about what I had done; I shouldn't have criticized someone in such a prominent way.  However, what if she was a true con artist who had previously taken advantage of a number of people?   Do you believe I was doing the right thing?

 

 

I screamed?   You should instead give some thought to what others write.  

 

I wrote that scams can come from the family, and seniors often lose their possessions to the greed of some family member/s.  I got this info from an experienced financial planner,  who told me that a majority of seniors who lose their assets do so by the action of family.   If you have dementia,  it is too late to leave your assets to anyone.  The problem can happen earlier, when seniors can still think but they have become more emotional and can easily be tricked with insincere affection.  The family member makes them think that their suggestions are for their own good,  when in reality they are to take over their assets. And the poor senior ends up in some miserable nursing home to be unhappy till death.  So what?  he lived long enough already, and had to die sooner of later...  

[Guest Where are we?]

2 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

I screamed?   You should instead give some thought to what others write.  

 

I wrote that scams can come from the family, and seniors often lose their possessions to the greed of some family member/s.  I got this info from an experienced financial planner,  who told me that a majority of seniors who lose their assets do so by the action of family.   If you have dementia,  it is too late to leave your assets to anyone.  The problem can happen earlier, when seniors can still think but they have become more emotional and can easily be tricked with insincere affection.  The family member makes them think that their suggestions are for their own good,  when in reality they are to take over their assets. And the poor senior ends up in some miserable nursing home to be unhappy till death.  So what?  he lived long enough already, and had to die sooner of later...  

 

is this forum still blowing wind?

 

Is this a forum for the Singapore mature gay man, and topics he finds relevant?
 

Or is it actually a personal journal for  @Steve5380 to share endlessly irrelevant comments, gatecrash topics and post YouTube videos with questionable credibility?
 

 

[Steve5380]

25 minutes ago, Guest Where are we? said:

 

is this forum still blowing wind?

 

Is this a forum for the Singapore mature gay man, and topics he finds relevant?
 

Or is it actually a personal journal for  @Steve5380 to share endlessly irrelevant comments, gatecrash topics and post YouTube videos with questionable credibility?
 

 

 

NO!  Gay men don't need to be mature.  Because the next step after mature is...  spoiled.  We gays should be fresh,  with fresh ideas and positive outlooks. What you find irrelevant may not be so for others.  So please,...  live and let live!  

 

BW is a free forum for anyone who complies with its rules.  And there is no rule that posts have to be found relevant by you.  I'm sorry, but you are not part of the equation.  😀

[Guest Close call]

5 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

 

I wrote that scams can come from the family, and seniors often lose their possessions to the greed of some family member/s.  I got this info from an experienced financial planner,

Beware most senior easily get conned by their financial Planner. I can tell u are now their potential target.  

[Steve5380]

3 hours ago, Guest Close call said:

Beware most senior easily get conned by their financial Planner. I can tell u are now their potential target.  

 

More of a reason to preserve sanity and avoid being conned by the financial planner.  BTW,  people of all ages can be conned by a financial planner!  I am NOT their target because...  because I don't have a financial planner.

[Guest Liar spotted]

12 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

I got this info from an experienced financial planner,  who told me that a majority of seniors who lose their assets do so by the action of family.

So you lied.

3 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

 I don't have a financial planner.

 

[Steve5380]

5 hours ago, Guest Liar spotted said:

So you lied.

 

 

Your malevolent post is a little misplaced.  I got the info from an experienced financial planner.  But he is not MY financial planner. 

.

Edited July 21, 2024 by Steve5380

[Guest Catfishers]

Gay dating apps are filled with China and Malaysian catfishers using Hong Kong WhatsApp number starting from +852.

 

They will use attractive photos of other people to hook their prey.

 

Some of them want to pursue a relationship with you, while others want to get you to invest in cryptocurrency.

 

It is easy to tell when they type in Chinese, have little or no English competency, know little about the country they claimed to stay in, refuse to pick up your call or are unwilling to snap and send you a photo of themselves you have asked them to make a specific hand sign in.

 

Beware!

 

 

 

 

[Guest Guest]

What is the reason that these scammers want to chat on, e.g. whatsapp or Line platforms rather than the gay dating app platform itself?
 

It exposes your mobile phone number openly, right? 😱🤔😬😬

[Guest Catfishers]

4 hours ago, Guest Guest said:

What is the reason that these scammers want to chat on, e.g. whatsapp or Line platforms rather than the gay dating app platform itself?
 

It exposes your mobile phone number openly, right? 😱🤔😬😬

Yah so after blocking the number, next time probably ANOTHER young and beautiful stranger will message you on WhatsApp directly addressing you with your name saying they are your ex-school mate and want to Introduce some new investment product to you.

 

Have to be wary of that now. 

[singalion]

14 hours ago, Guest Catfishers said:

Gay dating apps are filled with China and Malaysian catfishers using Hong Kong WhatsApp number starting from +852.

 

They will use attractive photos of other people to hook their prey.

 

Some of them want to pursue a relationship with you, while others want to get you to invest in cryptocurrency.

 

It is easy to tell when they type in Chinese, have little or no English competency, know little about the country they claimed to stay in, refuse to pick up your call or are unwilling to snap and send you a photo of themselves you have asked them to make a specific hand sign in.

 

Beware!

 

 

 

 

 

I always ask them whether they are jailed in one of the human trafficking jails in Myanmar or Laos. Strangely after asking them they never respond any further.

 

 

[Guest Catfishers]

1 hour ago, singalion said:

 

I always ask them whether they are jailed in one of the human trafficking jails in Myanmar or Laos. Strangely after asking them they never respond any further.

 

 

But why do they always use +852 (Hong Kong) phone numbers on WhatsApp?

 

And how did they obtain them? 🤔 

[Guest Old fashion]

17 minutes ago, Guest Catfishers said:

But why do they always use +852 (Hong Kong) phone numbers on WhatsApp?

 

And how did they obtain them? 🤔 

No more 852. Too old fashion and obvious.  Now they start with 9 or 8. Direct hp number. Not even (65) anymore.

[Guest Catfishers]

1 hour ago, Guest Old fashion said:

No more 852. Too old fashion and obvious.  Now they start with 9 or 8. Direct hp number. Not even (65) anymore.

What do these people want?

[singalion]

80% seems love scam. 

They always tell you they search true friendship. 

 

[Guest Old Fashion]

4 hours ago, Guest Catfishers said:

What do these people want?

I didn't ask them because I blocked immediately.  Next time you try asking them and let me know, can?

[Guest Catfishers]

6 hours ago, Guest Old Fashion said:

I didn't ask them because I blocked immediately.  Next time you try asking them and let me know, can?

Financial scammers aside, some of them might be love scammers wanting more luck to build connections - by using other more attractive people's photos.

 

I don't know which is worse....

[radiusulnar]

Ignoring foreign calls and stranger Whatsapp calls is not foolproof anymore. Now I get scam phone calls from local phone numbers without the +65. What else can we do?

[EastSgDad]

I simply ignore calls I don't recognise. Unknown numbers are ignored. Just let it ring and cut naturally. I ignore WhatsApp too. (Even they are genuine)

If I can block calls/ WhatsApp texts, I would do so,  without fail. 

Basically, I never entertain. Safest! 

[Balestier]

On 7/22/2024 at 4:43 PM, Guest Catfishers said:

What do these people want?

Yr kkj n cum

[Balestier]

4 hours ago, EastSgDad said:

I simply ignore calls I don't recognise. Unknown numbers are ignored. Just let it ring and cut naturally. I ignore WhatsApp too. (Even they are genuine)

If I can block calls/ WhatsApp texts, I would do so,  without fail. 

Basically, I never entertain. Safest! 

Just pick up and hang up if it's voice recording from DBs, ica or gov  agency or a old 'friend' changing his number. In case it's a legitimate call from job agency, customers etc

Edited July 28, 2024 by Balestier

[singalion]

Lately, I always ask them whether they are trapped in these Human work slave jails in Laos or Myanmar and whether they need me to call the police.

 

100% they don't reply.

[singalion]

Most of these profiles are very easy to identify. the pictures look too good or are in spectacular settings.

Further, their age is always somewhere around 35 to 45y.

 

Entangle them into some very local locations and then they are lost.

Or reply something bizarre.

 

Lucky that most of them often switch to Mandarin... too obvious...

 

 

 

[yhtang]

38 minutes ago, singalion said:

Lately, I always ask them whether they are trapped in these Human work slave jails in Laos or Myanmar and whether they need me to call the police.

 

100% they don't reply.

 

That's a brilliant idea! I shall try this too. 😁