Singaporean scammers a blight on the city-state
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Re: Singaporeans aid Vietnam tourist victim of phone scam, News, November 6, 2014.
News of a Vietnamese tourist having been lured into buying a new smartphone – and extorted for more money or be faced with confiscation of the initial payment – at the Sim Lim Square mall in Singapore is very sad.
However, it turned out Mr Pham, the victim, was lucky to have received his money back in full from online sympathisers. The scamming shop owner refused to return his money in full.
The Singapore government is fully to blame for allowing such scammers to operate so openly in one of its top business districts.
According to some online reports, most Singaporeans do not fear shopping at Sim Lim, because the scammers are selective and prey only on tourists from countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and China.
My family is planning to go to Singapore sometime next year, to show my six-year-old grandson how the city-state is famous for its cleanliness and orderliness.
The plan has now been cancelled.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
