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WorldSCAM ALERT

Singapore man, 71, loses S$21,688 in retirement savings after falling for Facebook lottery scam

Police say the man, surnamed Yang, borrowed from friends and a licensed moneylender to pay a 'handling fee' for a promised three hundred thousand dollar prize.

On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Overnight
Published
Photo: The White House · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · World

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Overnight at 1:40 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Hindustan Times's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Mark Zuckerberg
Photo: The White House · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

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What BBN said about it

  1. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA seventy-one-year-old man in Singapore has lost twenty-one thousand six hundred eighty-eight Singapore dollars in retirement savings to a Facebook lottery scam, according to a police report.

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe saw the ad in August.

  3. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe scammers claimed to have insiders at Singapore Pools who could share winning four-D numbers, then told him a handling fee would secure a three hundred thousand dollar prize.

  4. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo he paid a fee to collect a prize that didn't exist, and when he ran out of money he borrowed from friends and a licensed moneylender.

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorStomp reports that when he confronted the scammer, the man allegedly swore at him and dared him to make a police report. He did.

  6. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPolice confirm investigations are ongoing.

  7. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA dare to call the police. That's the most confident thing a scammer has ever said.

  8. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPolice warned in June about Facebook lucky draw scams, more than thirty-three reports since May twentieth.

  9. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe told Shin Min Daily News he's now living on instant noodles and bread.

  10. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIf a stranger's ad needs a fee before the prize, the prize is the fee.

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The story so far

  1. Kardashian towel line traced to a fan page selling his T-shirts · Yahoo Sports
  2. Google and Singapore build AI scam-spotter for Android · The Straits Times
  3. Singapore Airlines adds pyjamas, skincare and Toy Story items from… · The Straits Times
  4. Singapore haze drags on as prime minister warns of action · CNBC
  5. Brundle calls Hamilton's Singapore pit call 'bizarre' · Motorsport Week
  6. Singapore Airlines' new First and Business Class seats: what the… · The MileLion
  7. Singapore man, 71, loses S$21,688 in retirement savings after… (this story)

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