Chen Hanwei Says He Fell For 'Hypnosis Scam' At Paragon Mall; Unknowingly Handed Cash To Random Couple At Car Park

Scams come in all shapes and forms these days.

Just ask Chen Hanwei who unknowingly came face-to-face with a 'hypnosis scam' one day at Paragon shopping mall. 

The 56-year-old Mediacorp actor is currently filming drama series Lost And Found — an international co-production between Singapore’s Mocha Chai Laboratories and Empire of Arkadia, and Japan’s TV Man Union and NHK Japan — which delves into the treacherous world of online threats and scams.

He recalled a strange personal encounter at the mall's car park, which he believes was a in-person scam that he unwittingly fell for. 

“It was a couple with a baby, driving a fancy Mercedes. They said: ‘You’re Chen Hanwei! How lucky we are to run into you!’," Hanwei told CNA in an interview.

The actor then stopped to say hi, "never imagining that they could be harbouring bad intentions."

According to Hanwei, the couple had many bottles of red wine in their car. 

Claiming that their restaurant had closed down and they were hence giving the wine away, they then offered to give Hanwei some. 

"I said: ‘No, thanks. I don’t drink'," he recalled. 

The couple did not give up. 

"They said: ‘Take some! Yesterday, we ran into Chen Liping and gave her two bottles. She gave us S$100 in return'," continued Hanwei.

"Then, for some reason, as we were talking, I took S$100 out of my wallet and gave it to them. It was really strange.”

Hanwei then returned to the mall and found a wine shop to have the bottles appraised.

“The moment I walked in and the boss saw me holding those bottles, he laughed and said: ‘Oh, another one'," said Hanwei.

"He told me that those people use hypnosis to scam people of money, and that each bottle [of wine] actually cost only S$5.”

But just when and how was the actor 'hypnotised'?

"Some scammers use their voice, others can use scents,” he explained. These scammers can apparently also use soothing voices, repetitive phrases, or sensory manipulation to guide victims into a trance-like state.

“If you’re alone or abroad, and someone approaches you, you must be very careful," urged Hanwei.