A Quacking Scam: The Peking Duck Debacle
Cautionary Tale How a 74-Year-Old Man Lost His $50,000 Life Savings in a Costly Quest for Peking Duck
A 74-year-old man lost $50,000 life savings through a Peking duck ordering app.
Image Source: Peking Duck
Once upon a time, in the bustling streets of Singapore, there lived a charismatic 74-year-old man named Mr. Loh. Little did he know that his quest for a delectable dinner would spiral into a humorous fashion debacle, leaving him bereft of his hard-earned savings.
It all began innocently enough, as Mr. Loh stumbled upon a Facebook deal that offered a mouthwatering 1.5kg of succulent Peking Duck for a steal – a mere $17.30! With an additional $3.60 for delivery fees, what could possibly go wrong? Armed with excitement, Mr. Loh decided to treat his family to this delectable delight.
However, fate had a mischievous plan in store for poor Mr. Loh. The Facebook seller, cunning as a fox, lured him into a web of deceit. Sending persuasive voice messages via WhatsApp, the seller convinced Mr. Loh to download the Grab&Go app to place his order. Little did he suspect that this seemingly innocent app would turn his world, and wallet, upside down.
To proceed with his culinary dreams, the app demanded a modest $5 Singapore dollar deposit payment through PayNow. Naturally, Mr. Loh hesitated. He questioned whether this was a scam, sensing danger lurking beneath the duck’s enticing facade. But alas, like a moth to a flame, he succumbed to the seller’s charm, reassuring him that “no one would be cheated of $5” and that “this was a small thing.”
Lo and behold, within minutes of making the payment, Mr. Loh’s phone screen transformed into a black abyss, repeatedly rebooting like a confused gadget possessed by a mischievous spirit. Panic ensued, as he desperately sought answers from the scammer, who was undoubtedly chuckling like an evil villain behind the scenes.
Only when his wife astutely detected something fishy did the truth reveal itself. The family sprang into action, contacting the bank in a frantic attempt to block any further financial damage. Alas, their efforts were in vain. The bank sadly revealed that the scammer had cunningly increased Mr. Loh’s transaction limit, swiftly transferring a staggering US$42,900 from his current and savings accounts. And if that wasn’t audacious enough, the scammer even obtained a credit advance of almost $8,000 using Loh’s DBS credit card.
“I couldn’t believe the news. I thought: Why am I so stupid?” Mr. Loh confessed to The Strait Times, overcome with a mix of anger and self-deprecation. “I was so angry at myself for being cheated of my life savings,” he lamented, the weight of his mistake crushing his spirit and causing friction between him and his wife.
Oh, the heartbreak! Mr. Loh’s children, deeply saddened by their father’s misfortune, had previously warned him about such schemes. They thought they had done enough to shield him from such treachery. Alas, the scammer’s web proved too intricate, and now their father stood as a prime example of a quack gone wrong.
In the aftermath of this fiasco, Mr. Loh made drastic changes to his technological arsenal. He vowed to protect himself by switching phones and deleting Facebook and banking apps, as if purging his virtual world of the scammers lurking around every corner.
Sadly, Mr. Loh is not alone in his plight. According to a recent report by Singapore’s Police Force, over 750 unsuspecting Android users fell prey to malware scams in the first half of 2023, resulting in losses exceeding $7 million. To combat this growing threat, the Police Force and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore joined forces, releasing a joint advisory in August, raising awareness about the escalating frequency of malware scams targeting Android users.
So, dear fashion-forward readers, let this tale serve as a cautionary fashion faux pas. In the digital realm, seductive deals may beckon, promising a sumptuous feast for the senses. But be warned: beneath the seemingly innocent facade may lurk a sly scammer, ready to snatch your velvet purse of life savings and leave you with naught but empty pockets.
Stay vigilant, my dear fashionista friends, for the quacking scams of the world are vast and clever. Safeguard your fashionable fortunes, and let your style shine brighter than the lure of a fraudulent Peking Duck deal.
