Bizarre Encounter at Jurong Mall: Man Claims to Sell Fake 'Omega' Watch!

In a peculiar incident that took place at Westgate mall in Jurong East, a 72-year-old retiree, Mr. Long, found himself caught in a strange negotiation with a man purporting to be from Taiwan. The bizarre meeting unfolded on December 19 at around 4 PM, raising eyebrows and suspicions among mall-goers.

The stranger approached Mr. Long with a sob story about losing his money at a casino in Taiwan and needed to sell his prized Omega watch to recover his losses. However, Mr. Long, who has deep roots in the local Taiwanese community, was immediately skeptical. "When I heard his accent, I didn't believe he was truly from Taiwan," he recounted. His suspicion deepened when Mr. Long questioned him in Hokkien, a dialect commonly spoken by Taiwanese, and the man responded solely in Mandarin, unable to substantively answer about his gambling history.

Initially asking for $1,500 for the watch, the man eventually reduced his price dramatically, indicating desperation to make a sale. "He kept lowering the price, down to as low as $30, which raised more red flags for me," Mr. Long said. Despite the relentless pitch, Mr. Long repeatedly claimed he had no money, hoping to dissuade the man from pursuing the transaction.

The watch itself, which Mr. Long examined closely, did not convince him of its authenticity as a genuine Omega. Concerns regarding the potential legal ramifications of touching a questionable item added to his apprehension. In a last-ditch effort, the man even resorted to asking Mr. Long for $10 for a meal when it became clear the watch wouldn’t sell.

The encounter took an even more unusual twist when the stranger attempted to use a mobile app to communicate in English, showing Mr. Long a translation about the watch's supposed value. However, Mr. Long quickly noticed that the translation was done in simplified Chinese characters, something he deemed odd for a so-called Taiwanese tourist who would typically use traditional characters.

In a final attempt to extricate himself from the encounter, Mr. Long suggested the man use his "Omega" watch as collateral for a ticket back to Taiwan, but the stranger ultimately walked away disappointed.

While this incident concluded without any sale, it serves as a stark reminder of the oddities that can occur in everyday life, particularly in bustling spaces like malls. As local authorities advise caution when approached by strangers with implausible stories, shoppers are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.