If you just want to match $PrevMsgLink as a substring, do: 
my $topic_obj = $mech->find_link (text_regex => qr/\Q$PrevMsgLink\E/i 
+);

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The \Q .. \E construct backlash-escapes all special characters (it's a shortcut to the quotemeta function). That way, whatever $PrevMsgLink contains, it will match it as a literal string.

"What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"

In reply to Re: How can I handle special characters in mech->find_link by Joost
in thread How can I handle special characters in mech->find_link by SpacemanSpiff

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