Don't fall for this convincing spin on the 'lost wallet' scam

The lady acts as the man's "secretary" while he charms you into giving him money to help get them to their important meeting. Photo / via Facebook

No matter how smart and slick you think you are, it's easy to fall victim to scams while travelling. Especially when it's one that speaks to your sense of compassion.

A woman from Singapore has taken to social media to warn of a scam in her hometown which does exactly that - and it's gone viral because it has fooled so many others, too.

It's a convincing spin-off of the classic "lost wallet" scam and it goes like this: a well-dressed couple will claim they have lost their wallets and they need to get somewhere for a business meeting, even giving you a fake business card to appear sincere.

The lady acts as the man's "secretary" while he charms you into giving him money to help get them to their important meeting.

The woman who posted the warning, Shirley Low, originally fell for the con but became suspicious when she spotted the couple, who claimed they were Chinese, again in a different area.

"The lady noted my hesitation, probably recognised me too and quickly alerted the guy and they made some excuses and walked very quickly away from the Japanese Business man (who had difficulty understanding what he saying!)" she wrote.

"Hope someone can enlighten me on how we can catch them so that no more kind souls will have their money cheated."

Dear Friends, please be careful of this Chinese couple from China ! They are scammers! Didn't manage to get a photo of...

Posted by Shirley Low on Wednesday, 13 September 2017

The post has been shared more than 2000 times and has attracted hundreds of comments from others who have been approached or swindled by the same couple.

"Damn it ... I encountered the same about two weeks ago at Parkroyal Pickering Hotel lobby," Benny Fong commented.

"The couple said they are from Taiwan on a business trip but got cheated and got no cash to take cab and I replied you can book an uber which is cashless and I can call the police for you since you got cheated (sic). After I said police, they turned away, which only then did I realise something was wrong."

"They were spotted around Chinatown and Clark Quay too," Kenneth Yeo commented.

"It was the same thing, dress smartly with gold jewellery and branded bags. They would say they are not scammers and wanted $20++ for food and transport. They would say something like: 'Don't worry, we are only people from China, lost and don't have enough money.'

"It's horrible that these kind of people prey on others' kindness and trust. Disgusting!!"