Suspected SCAM - You won a Special Prize!!

[Cerberus]

This is not related to sex.....but just post here to warn Bros here who frequent JB City Sq. My buddy and me met this fellow while exiting City Sq via the overhead bridge (the one near a magazine stand). This guy gave both of us a sealed enveloped. I opened mine and saw only the word "Thank You!".
My friend opened his and found he won a special prize. This guy then proceed to spin a wonderful story. Taken in, we went with him via taxi (we pay for the taxi) to a secluded upper staircase office at Jalan Permas 10 area.
We got a little suspicious when we see the office is kind of "fly-by-night" setup.
The guy then proceed to psycho my buddy to sign on a consent form with Name, IC, Address.....on further probing, this guy wanted us to give him 4.5k rm as a kind of "deposit" upfront in order to participate in the lucky draw.

We didn't and my buddy simply refused to sign on the consent form as he wanted to know the exact prize he is going to get. That guy "boh bian" and let us go.

I keep this incident short and sweet and omitted a lot of details. But if Bros here wanted to know further, I will continue to post.

This guy called himself Alex and is a very persistent and smooth talker....Beware....

[cool33]

Old trick that use to cheat aunty in JB last time. Now trying to cheat Singaporean. Yeap, is totally SCAM!!! Can report to police...

[Orff]

Thanks for sharing, I go city sq quite often. Will beware of this guy.

[stephan]

Originally Posted by Cerberus

... Taken in, we went with him via taxi (we pay for the taxi) to a secluded upper staircase office at Jalan Permas 10 area. ....

smooth talker... they can never waste my time!

[Cerberus]

Thanks for the response. I was trying to create awareness.

I think he don't just target Singaporeans. He target locals as well. While we are in the "fly-by-night" office, I see a few aunties there as well. Really pity them if they are really taken in.

That Alex guy not only smooth talker, he is very persistent. Perhaps a little bit too persistent. We told him we will look for him to claim prize after we had our lunch. He immediately offered to follow us. He was quite smart. He only ordered a glass of ice water. His mouth never really stopped throughout.

He did showed us some newspaper cuttings. But the big loophole was it was dated 2006!! My buddy pointed out to him. He said this is just an example.
He also showed us a full album of newspaper cuttings and pictures of ppl who had won prizes. But all in 2006, 2007. I asked him again whether there are recent 2010 cuttings. He told me he have and will bring to show me, but he never did. My buddy said later those cuttings and the event really happened. But this contest have ended long ago.

The consent form was drafted out quite well. It said you pay 4.5k rm as a kind of advertising fee and to participate in the lucky draw. He keeps mentioning about winning the cars and other big prizes. If we won, the 4.5k rm can be offset since most are big prizes. Except for one......a stupid "jade matress" which I think can get from any pasar malam for less than 10rm.
To top it off, the form stated if you don't get any prize, they will pay you 10k rm. Sounds good to be true, right? Except...you will defintely win.....the "jade mattress".

I do agree we were taken in by greed. But last minute, we stood our ground. We wasted some $ traveling to remote Jln Permas 10 though. A lesson learn.

If we would have just walk away at the overhead bridge, all this unpleasantness would not had happened. We were planning to go for a spa session. This incident kind of spoil our mood.

[nukebomb]

Bro, thanks for enlightenment.