Think You're Too Smart to Be Scammed? Anyone can be manipulated. The Case of Nina Wang

This article tackles a topic that should be on everyone's mind: scams. Protecting ourselves and our loved ones is paramount, especially given the alarming rise of scams in recent years. This issue hits particularly close to home for me because I have elderly dependents who are prime targets for these heartless criminals. If they fall victim, their problem becomes my problem.

All of us will retire one day. For retirees with no active income, the consequences of being scammed are devastating. The loss of their hard-earned savings could mean sacrificing essential needs or even facing financial ruin.

What's even scarier? It's not only retirees who are vulnerable. ANYONE CAN BE SCAMMED. I've seen online forums like hardwarezone, where people deride scam victims as stupid and careless.
"Basic smartphone safety practice also don't know. Already say many times don't anyhow click on suspicious links on Facebook advertisements liao. Stupid no cure."

Some people think they are too smart to fall prey to scams but this "it-won't-happen-to-me" attitude is dangerous.

While younger, tech-savvy individuals may not fall for phishing links, they can be scammed in countless other ways. Everyone has unique weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Once a scammer identifies and exploits them, anyone can fall prey. I constantly remind myself not to be overconfident. After all, there are countless examples of more brilliant, more successful people who have been scammed.

Take the case of Nina Wang. At the time of her death in 2007, she was the richest woman in Asia, having amassed a fortune through her business acumen and fierce determination. She built her empire, Chinachem Group, alongside her husband, Teddy Wang, before his kidnapping in 1990. She famously stared down the kidnappers, paying a $33 million ransom, but Teddy was tragically never seen again. She even fought a high-profile legal battle against her own father-in-law for control of the company, ultimately solidifying her position as a business titan. If anyone seemed impervious to manipulation, it was Nina Wang. Yet, even she fell prey to a shocking scam. 

The details of the scam seemed absurd, considering her business acumen. The scammer, Tony Chan, exploited Nina Wang's deep love for her late husband, Teddy Wang, and her loneliness as a widow. Teddy had disappeared years earlier after being kidnapped, and despite evidence pointing to his death, Nina refused to believe the evidence and clung to the hope that he was still alive. Tony, a self-proclaimed feng shui master, exploited this vulnerability by claiming he could locate her husband through his Fengshui's rituals. His rituals involved erotic massage. One thing led to another (use your own imagination). The two became lovers later. When Nina passed away, the scammer forged a will and named himself the sole beneficiary of her massive fortune. Justice prevailed and he was sentenced to 12 years jail for the forgery.

Nina Wang's story is a powerful reminder that even the smartest, most successful individuals are vulnerable to manipulation. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone of us. We all have emotional needs, blind spots, and moments of weakness that a skilled manipulator can exploit. Therefore, we must remain vigilant. Cultivating self-awareness, questioning motives, and seeking independent verification, especially when it comes to matters of the heart and finances, are crucial defenses against deception. 

At the risk of sounding repetitive, there are 2 points which I want the reader to take away from this article.

• Anyone can be scammed. Don't let overconfidence make you a target.
• Be acutely aware of our vulnerabilities so that we can sense manipulation as it happens

Psychological manipulation extends beyond scams.

Be aware of it in sales and marketing to avoid being manipulated into buying unnecessary things. 

Be aware of it even in personal relationships where toxic people manipulate you into doing things you don't want for their selfish interest.

Acknowledging our vulnerabilities and staying vigilant against manipulation are vital aspects of protecting ourselves and our wealth.