BEIJING (SCMP): A “hardcore” love ritual service listed on the Singapore-based online marketplace Carousell, designed to help individuals win back their exes, has gone viral and ignited intense discussions online.
Provided by Element Mustika, a Singaporean company branding itself as a “spiritual store”, the service aims to assist estranged couples for the price of S$500 (US$370).
The listing details that a reputable ajarn, or teacher in Thai, named James from Chiang Mai will perform the ritual. With over 20 years of industry experience, he claims to be the only practitioner in Thailand capable of conducting the special “bloodworm love ritual”, asserting that this secret knowledge was transmitted solely to him through his lineage and ancient texts.
Individuals facing challenges in their love lives, whether recovering from a break-up or trying to establish chemistry with a new date, are instructed to provide photographs and details of their intended targets, after which they simply need to “wait” for the charm to take effect.
The company notes that the master has built a strong reputation among his clientele, predominantly from China, where the efficacy of such services is highly valued.
However, Chinese media have reported several scams linked to love rituals.
In December 2022, Shanghai police arrested 10 people involved in orchestrating “black magic reunion rituals” for a woman, defrauding her of a total of 13,000 yuan (US$1,800).
Additionally, a Beijing court recently sentenced an unemployed woman to three years in prison for swindling 7,800 yuan (US$1,000) from another desperate individual seeking to reconcile with an ex.
Despite these cautionary tales, some users on Chinese social media express faith in such rituals, arguing that failures are often due to enchanters being fraudulent.
To assert their authenticity, the Element Mustika listing includes detailed guidelines on differentiating genuine rituals from fraudulent ones.
For instance, it promises to provide photos and videos of actual rituals conducted using the clients’ and partners’ images. In contrast, scammers are said to offer generic footage that lacks specificity to the clients or merely perform staged acts rather than genuine rituals, as they are not conducted by a true master.
Moreover, customers are warned about the potential risk of being solicited for repeated payments for multiple rituals.
The website also features testimonials from previous clients expressing gratitude, claiming that the rituals “drastically improved my love life” and facilitated their partners’ decisions to “break up with the other girl and return to me.”
When shared on Reddit, the listing elicited mixed reactions.
One commenter noted that such rituals are “unfortunately and oddly” popular in Singapore, as “desperate people from all walks of life still purchase these services in this modern era.”
Another observed that the practice seems particularly prevalent among the “free-spirited” younger generations.
A third voice expressed scepticism: “Heartbroken or lovestruck individuals will do anything, sadly. It is despicable that people capitalise on this vulnerability.” - South China Morning Post
