'Fortune teller' goes missing after woman transfers him more than $30,000

A woman who transferred more than $30,000 to a Malaysian fortune-teller she met online has made a police report after she was subsequently unable to contact the man.

Ms Chen, 29, told Shin Min Daily News that in February, she was feeling frustrated over her inability to save money. The administrative executive then happened to see a Xiaohongshu post from a Malaysian "master" who claimed the ability to divine an individual's fortunes.

After Ms Chen contacted him, the fortune-teller examined her horoscope and said he would help her to buy lottery tickets. He also said that he had personally won more than $270,000 in the lottery.

"Someone claiming to be the master's assistant called and asked for my zodiac sign and full name. Then the master contacted me and said he had read my fortune and found that my horoscope had a bad omen. He asked me to pay RM120 (S$36) first."

Hidden numbers in her horoscope

The "master" later told her that there were eight numbers hidden in her horoscope and asked her to buy lottery tickets based on the first four numbers on March 9.

"The master said the last four numbers of my horoscope were too vague and needed his assistant to help with the betting. As a result, the four numbers I bought that night didn't win, but the master sent me a photo and said the numbers the assistant bought had come out."

Based on the photos provided by Ms Chen, the number bought by the "master" was 1184, with a total bet amount of RM600. It had struck the second prize, said the master, 'who added that the prize money was as much as RM900,000.

The "master" then asked her to transfer him about $1,080 in order to buy lottery tickets and to cover the cost of his trip to a temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he would make a thanksgiving offering on her behalf.

An offering on her behalf

Several days later, the "master" sent two photographs to show that he had performed the ceremony in the temple and asked her to pay him almost $1,500 for transport and accommodation.

Ms Chen added that the "master" then asked her to spend about $2,400 on dragon incense and candles, and around $2,350 to buy statues of deities for worship. He also asked for more than $6,000 to buy a brass incense burner.

The "master" then said that the negative energy in her home had caused him to vomit blood, and that he needed to spend about $5,135 on four prayer books.

Finally, he asked for another $10,630, saying it was to pay for the venue fee for enshrining the statue.

'I had my doubts'

Ms Chen said that while she had never tried fortune-telling or rituals to change her fortune before, and did not participate in religious activities on a daily basis, she had thought that these were necessary expenses.

"I actually had my doubts during the process, but the other party kept promising me a huge bonus, and I invested a lot of money, so I had no choice but to continue to believe, hoping that the other party was not deceiving me."

After losing contact with the "master" on April 15, Ms Chen realised what was going on and called the Singapore police. Shin Min attempted to contact the "master", but the number could not be dialed and texts could not be delivered.

In response to queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed that a police report had been made and that the case was under investigation.