Here's yet another case of people falling prey to scammers impersonating celebrities. 

Ex-Taiwanese singer-songwriter Wu Xue Fen, who has faded out of showbiz for 20 years, recently divulged that she was cheated by a man claiming to be Hong Kong singer Alan Tam, 74.

Xue Fen started an antique business with her retiree husband after getting married but the latter was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. Their business also suffered a hit after he fell ill. 

The couple ended up using all their savings and even mortgaged their house for her husband's medical bills, causing Xue Fen to have to return to showbiz to make ends meet. 

After not getting jobs for many years, Xue Fen decided to start songwriting again. Yet even after composing 80 songs, she did not land an album deal with a single music company. 

That was when she found her old pal 'Alan Tam' on Facebook and added him as a friend.

According to Xue Fen, she met Alan while performing at a gig in Singapore many years ago. 

"[Alan's band] The Wynners happened to be having a concert in Singapore so I went backstage with another singer to see them. Alan had a pretty good impression of me and even asked me out to watch a movie the next day," she claimed.

Seeing that she once went on a date with the star, Xue Fen then let her guard down when a person named 'Alan' began chatting with her on WeChat.

She even told said 'Alan' about her financial woes and asked him to lend her a hand. 

"'Alan' promised to help me, and said he would visit me in Taiwan but I'm not allowed to tell anyone about it. He also said he arranged for me to expand my career in Hong Kong and that he would support me," she said.

A reporter had apparently warned Xue Fen that this could be a scam, but she didn't believe it at first. She only sensed something was amiss when she asked 'Alan' to call her on three occasions but the latter kept finding excuses to decline.

Three days later, 'Alan' asked her to help him purchase Apple gift cards.

Xue Fen refused, and questioned that 'Alan' should be asking his assistant to do such things for him instead. 

'Alan' then threw a fit and scolded her before ignoring her completely. That was when Xue Fen confirmed that she'd fallen victim for a scam.

Though Xue Fen is glad that the scammer didn't succeed in the end, she expressed disappointment that just as she finally saw some hope in her comeback dreams, she now has to seek other opportunities. 

She also said that she has shared her songs on YouTube but if she still doesn't manage to make money out of them after six months, she'd have no choice but to set up a stall and sell antiques again. 

Who knows, maybe the real Alan Tam would see the news and really reach out this time?

Photos: sinchew.my