Above: some of the featured images on this blog 

Scam Alert – false impersonators of happyhighlife.com

Recently, it’s come to my attention that there are scammers who are using my blog’s name to (i) get people to share their credit card numbers online, or (ii) cheat people out of their money. Yup, this post is a Scam Alert.

Usually, the scammers would do the following:

1. Contact people via email or cold calls
2. Pretend that they represent this blog, happyhighlife.com, and name themselves as writers or employees
3. They would claim that they are selling /advertising credit cards, hotels, or hotel programmes (e.g. Supper Club at Regis) on behalf of this blog, and selling it at a great deal.
4. They may even ask you to read happyhighlife.com to check some information for yourself.
5. They will ask you to purchase the deal. They may ask you to give your credit card numbers via phone or through an email link.

It’s terrible – I discovered it because people have contacted me directly through instagram, facebook, or the ‘Contact Me’ box (in the ‘About Me’ section) to ask whether I am really offering or selling XYZ.

One person even asked me to send him a payment link. *facepalm*

When I asked how they got the information, they would ask me, is a certain phone number your office direct line? Is X person your staff/colleague?

Holy cow.

More featured images from happyhighlife.com – i work so hard to make this blog friendly and informative, i’m really sad that scammers are using my name for sinister purposes

My Promise to Readers

I do love writing about food and hotel stays, especially about the Amex Platinum Charge Card. and the Love Dining programme – with the programme’s restaurant dining guide and the hotel dining guide being among two of the most-read posts on happyhighlife.com.

However, I will NEVER initiate contact with any reader directly, to sell a product, ask for money, or request for your credit card or personal information.

I am also a one-person show – anyone who claims to work or represent happyhighlife.com or sell a product on the blog’s behalf, is making a false statement – RUN if this happens!

Wait – don’t I advertise certain stuff on my blog? Correct, I do. The difference is that – all products or services advertised on this blog lie at the choice of the readers to initiate the process. For example, all links to credit cards, such as these, are entirely up to reader to click on them. Only the reader can initiate this – me, the author of happyhighlife.com – will NOT do so.

Take the example below:

Want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points, vouchers and / or Krisflyer miles:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 140,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 62,500 Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 35, 000 Krisflyer miles when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

(Note: The links above – you can tell they are genuine – because you are directed to the ORIGINAL American Express website, where it’s up to the reader to decide if he/she wants to apply for a credit card).

Image Source: American Express

Scam Alert Reminder: I DO NOT PERSONALLY INITIATE ANY DIRECT CONTACT TO ADVERTISE OR SELL PRODUCTS. I DO NOT CALL, WHATSAPP, USE LINE OR VIBER OR ANY MESSAGING APPS TO CONTACT READERS.

All product, credit card, hotel staycation, or hotel programmes’ information will be posted only on the blog, happyhighlife.com.

Subscribers would additionally receive a monthly update of blog posts for that particular month. However, this is purely an update-type newsletter, and there will be NOTHING that requests for your money or credit care information.

I think a Scammer has contacted me. What should I do?

Do not share your credit card information or send money to anyone claiming to be or represent happyhighlife.com. 

I also highly recommend that you help to keep this space safe by Reporting Scam Messages – In Singapore, ScamShield is highly recommended. ScamShield is an initiative by the Singapore Police Force and the National Crime Prevention Council, and more information can be found at https://www.scamshield.org.sg/

Image Source: https://scamshield.org.sg – Please visit this website to report scam-related activities

From the website, you are able to report scam messages from other chat apps such as WhatsApp, Wechat, IMO, Viber, etc. You can forward the messages via ScamShield’s in-app reporting function.

Let’s Keep This A Safe Place

I am truly passionate about the stuff I blog about, and I appreciate EVERY single reader, viewer, or subscriber. In some ways, the fact that scammers want to use the blog’s name – it’s a testament that the blog is doing well and reputable enough to be deemed worthy of impostering. LOL. At the moment, despite being only a year and a quarter old, the blog is approaching 10,000 visitors a month and counting. Personally, this is an amazing feat – I do work full time and have two small kids, and can at most squeeze out 4 to 7 posts a months. My strategy has been to aim for consistency and quality rather than volume, and I’m constantly working to try and be a better blogger.

Scam Alert, just in case – If you’ve been approached by someone, or if you’re unsure whether something is genuinely from happyhighlife.com, please do not hesitate to contact me – I can be reached easily via the contact form below.

On my side, I will not hesitate to make a police report or take any legal action against scammers. Thank you everyone for reading, and let’s continue to keep this a safe space, folks.

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