Chris Infotainment

Rising Scam Threats Targeting K-pop Fans Scammers have been targeting fans of the popular K-pop girl group Blackpink, with victims losing at least SGD6,000 (US$4,600) since October due to fake concert ticket frauds. These scams are specifically linked to the group’s upcoming Deadline world tour in Singapore, which will feature three shows at the National Stadium on November 28, 29, and 30. According to local police, they have received at least 11 reported cases involving counterfeit tickets. The scammers are exploiting the high demand for Blackpink concert tickets by using various online platforms such as Telegram, Carousell, Xiaohongshu, Facebook Messenger, and TikTok to lure victims. Some scammers provided screenshots or videos of fake tickets or receipts to make their offers appear legitimate. They often claimed that ticket sales were time-sensitive or limited in quantity, creating a sense of urgency among potential buyers. After successful payment, scammers promised to deliv...

Miss Grand International 2021, Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, along with four other individuals, appeared in court on Wednesday. This marks six months since their arrest for allegedly promoting Kera vegetable gummies through false advertising to deceive customers. Tien, Nguyen Thi Thai Hang, the chairwoman of Chi Em Rot Group, and Pham Quang Linh, a director of the company, were brought to the HCMC People’s Court at 7 a.m. Two additional executives from the company, Le Tuan Linh, CEO, and Le Thanh Cong, director, are also facing trial. Miss Grand International Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien seen at the HCMC People's Court on Nov. 19, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The accused are charged with defrauding customers, a legal offense typically applied to those who falsify the measurement of goods or services or engage in deceptive sales practices. According to the indictment released in mid-2024, Hang, Linh, and others established Chi Em Rot Group with the initial goal of livestreaming and se...

Vu Thi Thuy, the chairwoman of Hanoi-based property developer Nhat Nam, is accused of defrauding investors out of VND5 trillion (US$190 million) by promoting non-existent housing projects and operating a Ponzi scheme, as reported by prosecutors. Thuy, 42, has been charged with fraudulent appropriation of assets and money laundering. She founded Nhat Nam in 2019 and lured buyers with promises of high returns, including "168% or 192% ... within two years," depending on the scheme, according to the recent indictment. Over the next two years, she expanded her operations by establishing four additional companies and opening 32 offices across the country. The company managed to collect VND9.1 trillion from more than 43,000 investors. Of this amount, 45% was used to pay earlier investors, while VND5 trillion was allocated for various purposes. A small portion, VND204 billion, was used to purchase land lots in Hanoi and other regions. However, most of these lands were agricultura...

A Complex Fraud Scheme Uncovered A sophisticated fraud ring has been dismantled by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, after deceiving 284 victims into investing a total of 24.5 billion Korean won. The group falsely claimed that unlisted stocks were about to go public, luring individuals with promises of high returns. The suspects allegedly used shell companies and foreign cash withdrawal teams to launder their ill-gotten gains. The police arrested 118 individuals, including members of an investment chatroom fraud ring, for violating the Capital Markets Act and operating a criminal organization. Among them, 28 suspects, including Mr. A, a man in his 20s who managed a call center, were detained. From October 2023 to April this year, Mr. A and others posed as investment experts, using pre-made fake investment sites to trick victims into believing they were making profits. This led to the embezzlement of approximately 24.5 billion won from 284 victims. How the Scam Worked The grou...

Rise in Scams Through Secondhand Trading Platforms Recent reports have highlighted a growing concern regarding the misuse of personal information through job recruitment ads on secondhand trading platforms. This issue has prompted authorities to issue warnings and advise users to be more vigilant. According to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the Korea Information and Communications Promotion Agency, there have been multiple instances where personal data was stolen via these platforms. The stolen information has been used for unauthorized sign-ups on dating apps, raising concerns about potential romance scams. How Scammers Operate Perpetrators often use recruitment ads that contain enticing phrases such as “packaging part-time work,” “short-term employment,” or “remote work.” These ads are designed to attract part-time job seekers. Once individuals click on these ads, they are directed to external websites where they are asked to register. During this process, scammer...

The Rise of Employment Scams in the Digital Age Nicole Becker, a 37-year-old from Oregon, was thrilled after a series of interviews with a sportswear brand. However, what initially seemed like a promising opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare when she realized the recruiter was a scammer. Employment scams have become increasingly prevalent online, fueled by a cooling labor market and the rise of generative AI that has made these schemes more sophisticated than ever before. In July, Becker received an offer from a purported Chinese brand to lead global communications after a seemingly legitimate recruitment process that lasted two weeks. There were no immediate red flags during the initial online interview with a supposed HR official, followed by a call with someone claiming to be the head of marketing and sales. The process continued with an offer letter accompanied by a detailed PowerPoint deck outlining her role, budget, and performance targets for the first six months. Bot...

Businessman Accused of Fraud in Tyre Import Scam A 28-year-old businessman, Ikechi Ndudem Solomon, has appeared before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, facing serious allegations of defrauding a businesswoman of ₦3,437,000. The charges stem from claims that he falsely represented himself as a Dubai-based tyre importer to deceive the victim into handing over a significant sum of money. According to the prosecution, Solomon was initially known as a trader of foodstuffs at Oniru Market in Lekki. However, he allegedly fabricated his identity, presenting himself as an importer of tyres based in Dubai. This deception led the complainant, Deborah Oguta, to believe that he could procure tyres for her from China. The prosecution stated that between March and May 2023, Solomon collected the money from Oguta under the pretense of arranging the importation of tyres. Despite receiving the funds, he failed to deliver the goods or refund the payment. Instead, it is alleged that he used the money for pe...

Global Scam Crackdown: WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Accounts in 2025 In a significant move to combat online fraud, WhatsApp has deleted 6.8 million accounts during the first half of 2025. This action is part of an ongoing effort to tackle global scams and malicious activities that have increasingly plagued digital communication platforms. According to reports, organized crime groups were responsible for most of these accounts. These entities used the platform to deceive users across multiple countries. The accounts were reportedly linked to scam centers located in Southeast Asia, with operations primarily based in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand. These centers are known for orchestrating various fraudulent schemes, including fake investment opportunities and unauthorized group chat hijacking. Criminals leveraged advanced tools, including artificial intelligence, to craft messages that appeared more authentic and convincing. This made it harder for users to distinguish between legiti...

The Growing Threat of Fake Science in Academic Publishing The integrity of academic publishing is under threat as organized networks of bad actors are increasingly infiltrating the system to promote fraudulent scientific research. Experts warn that this trend is undermining the credibility of medical and scientific research, with far-reaching consequences for public health and scientific progress. A recent study published in the journal PNAS has uncovered evidence of coordinated efforts by groups of editors and "brokers" who facilitate the publication of low-quality or outright fake research. By analyzing over five million scientific articles from 70,000 journals, researchers have identified a growing network of misconduct that bypasses traditional peer review processes. Lead author Reece Richardson, a social scientist at Northwestern University, emphasized the scale of the problem: “There are groups of editors conspiring to publish low-quality articles at scale, escaping...