Chew Ming Hui, Author at Goody Feed

Scams have been getting a fair bit of attention lately, and it's not for nothing. Yet again, a new contender has stepped in to steal the show—massage parlour scams. And no, it's not the type of scam you're thinking of (Get your mind out of the gutter...). A massage parlour nestled in People's Park Centre allegedly coaxed a customer into purchasing several massage packages amounting to a grand total of $40,000, by telling the customer that she was exposed to multiple severe health risks. Here's how it happened. From $18 to $180 On 6 April 2022, the victim was shopping at People's Park Centre when she was approached by staff from a massage parlour. The staff convinced her to try out a one-hour massage priced at just $18. Fast forward to an hour later, when the victim found herself being charged $180 instead. Although the victim tried to clarify this with the establishment's supervisor, her efforts were to no avail. The supervisor explained that the eventual amount was arrived at because the victim had three masseurs attending to her instead of one. The catch is this: the victim did not even request for additional masseurs in the first place. Regardless, the establishment promised to give the victim a discount on the $180 massage, while also urging her to purchase a $2,000 massage package entitling her to 20 appointments. Convinced that this was a reasonable offer, the victim decided to sign the package. What she did not know at that point in time was that, she would eventually end up signing nearly all her savings away. A Massage Parlour or a Clinic? In the following three months, nearly every appointment the victim made for a massage ended with her being "diagnosed" with new ailments and health risks. A massage parlour that doubles up as a clinic? Life really is full of surprises. In May, the masseurs told the victim that she was at risk of cancer. Paranoid, she purchased an $8,000 massage package. By June, the masseurs managed to convince the victim that she was at risk of a stroke due to poor blood circulation. The solution? To purchase a $12,000 package at the establishment. In July, it was time for paralysis to be added to the "diagnosis". The victim was convinced by the masseurs to purchase yet another package, this time amounting to $18,000. Join our Telegram channel for more entertaining and informative articles at https://t.me/goodyfeedsg or download the Goody Feed app here: https://goodyfeed.com/app/ Across a period of three months, the victim, paranoid about these purported ailments and health risks, spent a sum of almost $40,000 on massage packages which she supposed would reduce her risks of cancer, stroke and paralysis. The victim, a 70-year-old hawker assistant, earns an income of $1,500 per month. Having depleted her savings purchasing the countless massage packages, she currently has little to no savings left. Nevertheless, the massage parlour denies all allegations of their masseurs coercing customers into purchasing packages. A representative from the establishment emphasised that in the past 20 years that the establishment has been in operation, business has always been conducted honestly. He also added that the establishment makes it a point to remind their masseurs not to pressure customers into purchasing packages. Instead, the representative claims that the victim is only making these allegations now as she regrets her expenditure on the packages. Read Also: 99 More Websites That Streamed Copyrighted Contents Blocked in S’pore 29YO Man Found Dead in a River Valley Shophouse That is Undergoing Renovation The Try Guys Part Ways With Ned Fulmer After He Admitted To ‘Consensual Workplace Relationship’ RSAF Fighter Jets Escorted an SIA Flight After Man Made Bomb Threat in Plane 3rd National Swimmer Admitted to Taking Drugs Overseas; SportSG Has Concluded Its Internal Review Featured Image: Lianhe Zaobao