Here’s an idea for a True Singapore Ghost Story: ordering bak kwa for Chinese New Year… that never arrives.
Unfortunately, this is less of a horror story and more of an actual scam that’s been occurring recently, right before the festive CNY season.
If you’ve just read our recent article on innovative ways to enjoy bak kwa and are looking to stock up online, do be wary of a Facebook scam that’s been cheating people of both their money and the tasty dried meat. Tsk tsk.
Police Warns of Online Bak Kwa Scams in FB from Fake ‘Hock Moon Hiong’ Bak Kwa
The police are warning the public of a recent Facebook scam in which scammers claim to be selling bak kwa products from Hock Moon Hiong, a well-known Malaysian bak kwa chain with no physical outlets in Singapore.
According to the police, advertisements for bak kwa were placed on Facebook by scammers. Customers had to place orders through the social media platform and were required to pay in full either via PayNow or bank transfer.
As most e-commerce scams go, the rest is a familiar tale—victims realised that they had been scammed when they did not receive their orders and the seller went completely M.I.A.
Meanwhile, the official website of Hock Moon Hiong claims that all of its products are out of stock, but customers can still buy bak kwa from their physical outlets in Malaysia.
Protecting Yourself From Bak Kwa Scams
The police have pointed out that only meat products from approved sources can be imported or brought into Singapore, and that people should be careful when shopping online.
In order to be protected from such scams, members of the public are advised by the police to purchase bak kwa only from authorised and reputable sources. They also encourage people to check reviews of products and ratings before making payment, as well as to opt for cash on delivery when buying from online classified advertisements.
As the wise adage goes, when it comes to online deals, if it’s too good to be true, it most probably is.
To know more about online scams, you might want to watch these videos we’ve done in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force (and please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos!):
Where To Buy Bak Kwa Then?
Of course, the safest way to avoid getting scammed would be to head to a physical retail store to get your bak kwa fix, but with COVID-19 in our midst, the responsible citizen in all of us would surely still prefer a more contactless option.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a handy list of 11 places from which you can purchase bak kwa online, complete with prices and links to the stores’ websites.
Trust us, these stores are reputable and most definitely legit… but if for some reason you don’t get your bak kwa, please don’t come after us.
Featured Image: jreika / Shutterstock.com
Here's a summary of the Chocolate Finance saga, simplified so even a non-finance kid can understand:
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