“Feng shui master” scams SG followers thousands of dollars with threats to curse them

SINGAPORE: A man who said he was the apprentice of a well-known Hong Kong feng shui master attracted about 100 followers in Singapore, several of whom have since filed at least police reports against him.

They say that not only did he charge his followers thousands of dollars for his services, but he also manipulated them into obeying his wishes, threatening to curse them if they did not do what he wanted. Moreover, with some of his female followers, he also initiated inappropriate physical contact, reported Shin Min Daily News on Thursday (Nov 10).

The police have confirmed that reports have been lodged against the man, whom they say is now under investigation. Reports in the media add that the man has not responded to phone calls and that no one came to the door when visits were paid to his home and office in Singapore.

The “master” had even set up three shrines in the city, which is one of the reasons why he gained as many as 100 followers. The majority of his followers were women from their 20s to 40s, victims told Shin Min Daily News. The man charged as much as thousands of dollars for administrative fees and a monthly membership fee that cost S$150.

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The costs for rituals ranged from a few hundred to some thousands of dollars, and one follower even spent S$100,000 on several rituals and ceremonies.

The man compelled other followers to buy alcohol for him for special occasions, and he allegedly instructed them to buy expensive bottles of wine for him.

The “master” was also said to have mentioned the names of several gods to exercise control over the members and threaten them that if they did not listen to their ancestors, they would have bad luck.

Since the man knew his members’ birth dates and eight characters, some felt they had no choice but to obey what he wanted them to do, as they were afraid he would curse them otherwise.

Several women have said that the man touched them inappropriately or began talking about suggestive subjects that made them uncomfortable.

His ruse was discovered when followers contacted the feng shui master in Hong Kong under whom the man said he studied. The Hong Kong master told them that the man had been expelled as he did not follow the rules after only two to three months of studying under him. After this, most followers left the so-called master, although around 20 have reportedly stayed with him. /TISG