A really Intelligent Scam; I admit defeat.
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A fortnight ago, i encountered a new kind of scam. It was 12mn, and i was sitting in my living room, reading my newspaper. My wooden door was opened, (but the metal grille was locked lar), because i wanted to enjoy the natural breeze. Then suddenly, a malay lady approached me. And she appeared really distraught and at a loss.
She said that her husband is working in the late shift, and that her baby infant is running a severe fever. She says she has run out of cash at home, but she urgently needs the money to bring her baby to A&E. Somemore, she stressed that she lives one unit above me. (I am indeed aware that my neighbours upstairs is a muslim family, so i never doubted this part of the plot).
Out of sympathy, i gave her a $50 note, and she said she will return the money to me. within the night itself or the next day when here hubby returns from work. But yeah, in the end, u know.. i didnt get the $ lar. I went up one level to speak to my muslim neighbours and they denied having any persons with a baby infant in the household.
The cheater's plot is credible because
1) Some muslim families are indeed so poor that at times, there will be no $ at home one.
2) It is common, that Muslim Men are really hardworking people, and they will work late shifts to earn more $ to support their family.
3) The cheater already knows that the neighbours living above me are muslim family, so it was easy to lie the premise of her story that she lives upstairs.
4) Manipulation of a mother's love for her infant child. Wah this really got to me. My heart jz caved in to this.
so Yeah. kudos to such a Brillant plot. KNN.. I admit defeat ler.. ;-( -
know ur neighbours well
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woa...
if i was you i will also lend de lol >.<" -
I'll call the ambulance for her.
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well ... you can take heart that you parted with your $50 out of the goodness of your heart ... so nevermind eh ? ...
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thou shalt not screw thy neighbour's wife.
aiya, 50 only. take it as you know that you are always ready to do a good deed when the need arise. -
Next time suggest to go to her house and see the baby, keke act kind hearted and see how the baby is? I bet she will stun and Kowtow back to u for so brilliant and see thru her plot....
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Well, yar.. i guess. back then, i would rather err on the side of caution, and give the $. Cz what if, it was a genuine case; and a infant life was lost in my hands. Wah.. that will be sibeh Jialat for me to bear.Originally posted by newcomer:thou shalt not screw thy neighbour's wife.
aiya, 50 only. take it as you know that you are always ready to do a good deed when the need arise.
But hor, its birllant scam lor. This psychological warfare; they know victims are most likely to give cz a life is at stake. -
cannot blame you.....
love thy neighbour like you live thy self -
u from new creation ah? christina rite?
orh hor..... u say bad word. u say knn... jesus don't like u anymore. -
Actually, u know what after reading ur reply,, Shucks!!!! I realized that the best remedy, is to Ask her to show me her NRIC Card, cz the NRIC CARD will state here address.. and i will know if she is indeed staying one unit above me!!!!.Originally posted by CannyOng:Next time suggest to go to her house and see the baby, keke act kind hearted and see how the baby is? I bet she will stun and Kowtow back to u for so brilliant and see thru her plot....
Aiyah!!! Why i so stupid!!!1 ;-( -
if i kena this, this i will just take it as im donating lor.... to make myself feel better
you're kind-hearted
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If she is genuine,how? U will hurt her feeling and pride...Originally posted by New Creation:Actually, u know what after reading ur reply,, Shucks!!!! I realized that the best remedy, is to Ask her to show me her NRIC Card, cz the NRIC CARD will state here address.. and i will know if she is indeed staying one unit above me!!!!.
Aiyah!!! Why i so stupid!!!1 ;-(
Plus u will have one more family of enemy than neighbour... -
i don't blame you my friend...u just need more intel.
that scammer need more intel too, all she did was check out that the ppl living up ur level is oso muslim and then make up a story. -
Sign.. Yar.. you have a very valid point! Shucks.. hurting her pride and all.. Sign.. Wah. .. Really hard to tackle sia.. What do u suggest is the best way to expose them? I mean. even now as we speak, im sure the cheater is probably doing their Story telling in another housing estate now. cheating more people as we speak.Originally posted by CannyOng:If she is genuine,how? U will hurt her feeling and pride...
Plus u will have one more family of enemy than neighbour... -
Use my earlier mention method is the best way!Originally posted by New Creation:Sign.. Yar.. you have a very valid point! Shucks.. hurting her pride and all.. Sign.. Wah. .. Really hard to tackle sia.. What do u suggest is the best way to expose them? I mean. even now as we speak, im sure the cheater is probably doing their Story telling in another housing estate now. cheating more people as we speak.
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Ha thanks! its jz that its a knotty issue lor. Cz.. I mean this $50.. could end up in the hands of the real needy.. instead of the fake Needy mah.Originally posted by Lorry`:if i kena this, this i will just take it as im donating lor.... to make myself feel better
you're kind-hearted
Any ideas to expose the scam if we encounter such scams again? Hard leh!.. -
i believe sending baby to A and E and stuff dunid to talk money 1st rite?
even if nid money the hospital will bill the money to the family later one.. am i rite?
but then again.. under those circumstances, i also will b at a loss and prolly lend her too.. -
Yar.. this is a good observation. i didnt think of that . at that moment. i guess my heart jz paniced and lost its clarity upon seEing the woman's anxious and pale face. Sheez.. ;-(Originally posted by purpledragon84:i believe sending baby to A and E and stuff dunid to talk money 1st rite?
even if nid money the hospital will bill the money to the family later one.. -
yup.. at this point in time, your tactic seems to be the best ler in exposing them. ;-)Originally posted by CannyOng:Use my earlier mention method is the best way! -
And that part should have been the dead giveaway that you were being scammed.Originally posted by New Creation:She says she has run out of cash at home, but she urgently needs the money to bring her baby to A&E.
Think about it: if you had a family member at home in dire need of emergency medical attention, would you be wasting time running around the block asking for money to transport said family member to the hospital, or would you be on the phone post-haste calling 999 for an ambulance? -
Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
Yeah. u are absolutely right. But i guess.. at that moment in time. humans being an visual being, will be so grossly concentrating their attention at what their eyes sEe.. i.e. A mother is Distress, she needs HELP.
And that part should have been the [b]dead giveaway that you were being scammed.
Think about it: if you had a family member at home in dire need of emergency medical attention, would you be wasting time running around the block asking for money to transport said family member to the hospital, or would you be on the phone post-haste calling 999 for an ambulance?[/b]
Hmm yeah..i need to be more rational next time.
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It's a common basic scam. You are just not intelligent enough.
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Actually quite easy to tackle. Bond with your neighbours. It's not about pride and stuff.Originally posted by New Creation:Sign.. Yar.. you have a very valid point! Shucks.. hurting her pride and all.. Sign.. Wah. .. Really hard to tackle sia.. What do u suggest is the best way to expose them? I mean. even now as we speak, im sure the cheater is probably doing their Story telling in another housing estate now. cheating more people as we speak.
Another way is to ask her come in, you lock the door immediately in case she got a "look out" for her, if you dont lock, it might well end up into a burglary.
Once lock the door, take all keys, call hospital using a cordless phone. Distance yourself with her. Make sure she is not armed.
By doing so,
1) You sure she's real.
2) If she's fake, you locked her in. Police will deal with her. 1 less trickster in the world.
3) The look-out cannot harm you.
4) You have advantage over her. She cant harm you. -
Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
You are wrong, it is much faster to borrow some money, get a taxi and go straight to the hospital then wait for the ambulance to come.
And that part should have been the [b]dead giveaway that you were being scammed.
Think about it: if you had a family member at home in dire need of emergency medical attention, would you be wasting time running around the block asking for money to transport said family member to the hospital, or would you be on the phone post-haste calling 999 for an ambulance?[/b]