'I thought I could outwit scammers': Woman who lost over $78,000 to job scam in 4 days, Singapore News - AsiaOne

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/i-thought-i-could-outwit-scammers-woman-who-lost-over-78000-job-scam-4-days

'I thought I could outwit scammers': Woman who lost over $78,000 to job scam in 4 days

PHOTO: The Straits Times

Over several months, the scammer "Charles Khoo" would send encouraging messages to Ms Lee daily.

SINGAPORE - She was confident that even if she talked to a scammer, she would not fall for their tricks.

Yet, a woman who wanted to be known only as Ms Lee, 48, lost over $78,000 to a job scam in four days.

Her ordeal in February caused her to lose almost 90 per cent of her life savings.

Job scams were among the top scams of concern in 2024, with victims reporting more than 9,000 cases and losing $156.2 million, according to annual police statistics.

Scammers typically contact the victim on messaging apps, lure the victim into depositing money for a job offering attractive commission rates, then steal the funds.

Ms Lee, who works in sales, said someone using a foreign number contacted her on WhatsApp in late 2024 offering her an online part-time job.

She agreed, as she felt her work was mundane.

Soon, she was contacted by another man named "Charles Khoo" who claimed to be a Malaysian in Singapore, who was married, with a newborn.

Ms Lee was contacted by a man named "Charles Khoo", who claimed to be a Malaysian working in Singapore
PHOTO: The Straits Times

Though she suspected it was a scam, Ms Lee decided to play along as she said her life lacked excitement.

The married woman, who has an 18-year-old daughter, said: "I just wanted to disturb the scammers. I thought I could outwit them."

Ms Lee had contacted The Straits Times after reading in March about how the Government was considering caning as punishment for scam-related offences.

Charm offensive

Every day over several months, "Charles" sent her encouraging and cheery messages.

Slowly, she thought he was a genuine friend, even when he promoted a job to her.

Over several months, the scammer "Charles Khoo" would send encouraging messages to Ms Lee daily.
PHOTO: Ms Lee via The Straits Times

She said: "Every day he would ask, 'How are you Jie (Mandarin for sister). Why don't you give this online job a try?' Over time, I thought this must be just a part-time job to earn some side income."

The purported job required her to place a deposit in cryptocurrency and complete surveys related to about 30 brands, before receiving her deposit back with commission.

On Feb 15, Ms Lee put in about $600 and got back about $700.

Excited by the quick gains, she invested larger amounts over the next few days.

When she was asked to put in more than $11,000 on Feb 18, the cryptocurrency platform paused the transfer and emailed her that she may have been scammed.

But she still trusted "Charles", who convinced her to transfer the sum to his boss via PayNow.

She came to her senses when the job required her to invest $120,000, which she did not have.

She had already transferred $78,000, but was told she could not withdraw the sum until the job was completed.

Ms Lee said: "I was devastated and pleaded with them to return my money, my hard-earned savings."

The scammers refused and suggested she borrow money from the bank or licensed moneylenders.

Eventually, Ms Lee told her family about her predicament

Mind games

Dr John Shepherd Lim, chief well-being officer of the Singapore Counselling Centre, said some people may feel they can outwit scammers as they are tech-savvy and digitally literate.

But he cautioned against engaging them.

He said: "These scammers are usually not lone rangers. They are backed by syndicates. They understand psychological vulnerabilities and how people think."

In Ms Lee's case, Dr Lim said the scammer preyed on her emotional vulnerability by showering her with attention.

Dr Geraldine Tan, principal registered psychologist at The Therapy Room, called scammers "the best psychologists" as they use psychological techniques to their benefit.

Noting that scammers prey on basic human needs such as love and belonging, Dr Tan said nobody is immune to their tactics.

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Their methods include using "mirror neurons", where they do or say something that shows they are similar to the victim, so the latter feels emotionally safe with them.

Like how "Charles" told Ms Lee he was also married with a child, said Dr Tan.

She added: "The more the victim interacts with the perpetrator, the more vulnerable they will be. Anything the victim says can be weaponised."

The incident has gripped Ms Lee with guilt and shame.

Her husband was shocked, but did not blame her and accompanied her to the police station to file a report.

The funds she lost was meant to pay part of their housing loan, which her husband now has to bear alone.

Ms Lee decided to share her story to warn Singaporeans against being complacent.

She said: "Even though you could be a very alert person, you could also fall prey to online scams. This made me learn a very painful lesson that we can never outwit scammers."

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.

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HSA investigating woman filmed vaping in train; anaesthetic found in vape pod at her home | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hsa-investigating-woman-filmed-vaping-in-train-controlled-drug-found-in-vape-pod

HSA investigating woman filmed vaping in train; anaesthetic found in vape pod at her home

The woman was seen openly vaping on an MRT train. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM SINGAPORE NEWS/YOUTUBE

SINGAPORE – A woman is assisting the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) with investigations after a video of her vaping on an MRT train was posted online in March.

In a statement on April 4, HSA said it identified the 24-year-old woman in the video, and raided her residence on March 24, where one e-vaporiser and three e-vaporiser pods were found.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the pods contained etomidate, an anaesthetic in clinical practice for general anaesthesia and sedation for short procedures.

Etomidate should be administered only under medical supervision, HSA said. Potential effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, changes in breathing and blood pressure, seizures, psychosis, and physical dependence, the authority added.

In the widely circulated video, the woman is seen seated on an MRT train, appearing drowsy and at one point bowing her head as her hair falls forward. Her hand movements are jerky and unnatural as she adjusts her hair before exhaling smoke.

"This incident, in which the woman openly vaped on an MRT train, was a flagrant violation of the law," said HSA.

Vaping is illegal in Singapore. The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, including those bought online or from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000.

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Those found with pods containing etomidate can also be charged under the Poisons Act. Those convicted can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.

HSA said it raided her residence on March 24, where one e-vaporiser and three e-vaporiser pods were found.PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCE AUTHORITY

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ST Explains: What Trump’s tariffs are, and how they could affect growth in Singapore and more | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/st-explains-what-are-trumps-tariffs-and-how-they-could-affect-growth-in-singapore-and-more

ST Explains: What Trump's tariffs are, and how they could affect growth in Singapore and more

Trump has branded the day "Liberation Day", though most economists expect US consumers to foot the costs. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

SINGAPORE - US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on trading partners on April 2, calling them a declaration of economic independence and a move that will make America wealthy again.

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods and used to regulate trade, protect domestic industries and generate revenue.

A fresh "baseline tariff" of 10 per cent will apply to all goods imported into the US from around the world, including Singapore, with steeper "reciprocal" tariffs on at least 60 trading partners that Mr Trump said slapped excessively high duties on American products.

"Reciprocal. That means they do it to us and we do it to them," Mr Trump said at a Rose Garden event at the White House on April 2.

During that speech, Mr Trump defended all of his tariffs as "kind", saying the taxes are lower than the tariffs and other trade barriers other countries impose on imports from the US.

How will Trump's tariffs impact Singapore?

Singapore imposes no tariffs on US products under the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA). It also imports more from the US than it exports.

In that light, goods exported to the US from Singapore appear to be subject to the minimum 10 per cent tariffs being imposed by Mr Trump, which are set to take effect at the start of April 5.

Certain goods, like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which are key exports for Singapore, are on a small list of products that are currently spared from the new tariffs.

Still, imposing a 10 per cent tariff on Singapore's exports to the US is a violation of the USSFTA, which includes the elimination of tariffs between the two countries, making trade in nearly all US and Singaporean goods duty-free.

But further levies might be on the way.

Maybank economist Chua Hak Bin warned that the exemption from tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors will not last long.

"Clearly, Trump has not made a tariff decision on semiconductors as well as pharmaceuticals, which are both important to Singapore's manufacturing share and export share.

"I don't think they will be zero," he said, adding that he expects an announcement on further tariffs to currently exempted goods by the end of April or early May.

There could also be further tariffs "stacked on top of the 10 per cent baseline rate that has been introduced for Singapore", he said.

While this will not place Singapore at a competitive disadvantage to its neighbours, as the tariffs will likely be imposed across the board, Maybank will nonetheless be downgrading its growth forecasts for Singapore, Dr Chua said.

Semiconductors, which account for about 30 per cent of the Republic's annual exports, and pharmaceuticals, which represent 8.3 per cent, will likely be the industries hardest hit.

Dr Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, said exempted goods "are going to be whacked with Section 232 tariffs very soon. These could be higher than reciprocal tariffs".

Section 232 tariffs are US trade tariffs imposed on imports for national security reasons under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. These tariffs allow the US government to restrict imports if they are deemed to threaten national security.

How will companies, consumers and jobs be affected?

Singapore has for now avoided reciprocal tariffs which have hit its neighbours.

The tariffs on Cambodia were the highest at 49 per cent, followed by Vietnam at 46 per cent, Thailand 36 per cent, Indonesia and Taiwan at 32 per cent each, Malaysia 24 per cent and the Philippines at 17 per cent.

One major way Singapore could suffer would be from much fewer investors setting up their headquarters here as the region's attractiveness wanes under further pressure, resulting in missed opportunities for growth and jobs.

Due to its stable regulatory environment and attractive incentives, Singapore commonly serves as a base for international investors and companies that want to expand in South-east Asia.

As Chinese imports will also be hit with a 34 per cent US tariff, on top of the 20 per cent Mr Trump had previously imposed on China, much of these goods will continue to find their way into other markets, including in South-east Asia.

Local and regional businesses could see their profit margins come under pressure as they struggle to match the low prices of cheap goods from China, economists said.

"If others are now scrambling for new markets, they might find opportunities in your market that never faced much competition in the past. That could easily set off new rounds of protectionism or retaliation," Dr Elms said.

In Singapore, other businesses that could be affected by Mr Trump's tariffs include those making precision engineering equipment and offshore rigs and vessels, said independent economist Song Seng Wun.

As the tariffs are absorbed and costs gradually rise for local businesses, consumers and businesses here could feel the pinch.

According to a flash survey of 36 Singapore companies by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore on April 2, nearly half (45 per cent) plan to pass on the increased costs from new US tariffs to their customers.

Nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) said they expect the new tariffs to have a significant or moderately negative impact on their operations, the study found.

What other areas will be impacted?

Singapore could continue to see its currency strengthen in the months to come.

The Singapore dollar has outperformed most Asian currencies in the first quarter of 2025, supported by a weakening US dollar, which slid further after Mr Trump's latest tariffs on all US imports raised concerns over economic growth and inflation.

While this bodes well for Singaporeans spending overseas, a strong currency could make Singapore exports less attractive at a time when competition is about to get tougher.

Demand for the Singdollar is expected to remain strong given its status as a regional safe haven currency, even as expectations mount for further monetary policy easing as inflation has slowed.

Analysts are already predicting that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) may ease its currency policy further in April.

In an April 3 statement, MAS said Singapore's foreign exchange and money markets continue to function normally.

"MAS stands ready to curb excessive volatility in the Singapore dollar, and to ensure that Singapore's foreign exchange and money markets continue to function in an orderly manner," it said.

"MAS is closely monitoring developments and assessing the implications for the Singapore economy."

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US tariffs could set off global trade war, dampen S’pore’s economic growth: DPM Gan | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/singapore-disappointed-with-tariffs-will-engage-us-to-clarify-calculations-dpm-gan

US tariffs could set off global trade war, dampen S'pore's economic growth: DPM Gan

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong speaking at the National Press Centre on April 3.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

SINGAPORE – The US move to subject imports to wide-ranging tariffs will have a significant impact on Singapore and could escalate into a global trade war, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on April 3.

DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, was speaking to the media following US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on most goods imported into the US from Singapore and key partners, with higher duties for many other countries.

Analysts have said that the move could spark a global trade war and impact growth around the world.

"This 10 per cent baseline tariff on Singapore will have a significant impact on our economy," said DPM Gan.

"Our households and our businesses will have to be prepared for rough waters ahead of us."

Singapore is reassessing its growth forecast for 2025, and it is prepared to offer support to households and businesses if needed, he said.

"It is still early days, because some of the information is still not fully available, so we will need to take time to reassess, adjust, to see whether we need to recalibrate our economic forecast."

While the tariff of 10 per cent on goods from Singapore is less than that on goods from other countries, there will be an impact on growth if global trade and economic activity slows down significantly, DPM Gan noted.

He pointed out that some countries are already announcing retaliatory tariffs.

"If these tit-for-tat tariff measures continue, it may escalate into a situation where you end up with a global trade war. This will have a significant impact on the global economy," he added.

"It will affect trade flows. You will create choke points for supply chains, and also undermine the confidence of consumers and businesses. Investments will also slow down. All these eventually will significantly slow down the global economy. This will also, in turn, affect Singapore's economic outlook in the medium to long term," he said.

Singapore disappointed, will engage US to clarify concerns

DPM Gan told reporters that Singapore is disappointed with the US move because the two countries have had a longstanding economic relationship and a free trade agreement (FTA).

The Republic will therefore engage the US to understand how it has calculated the tariffs, and to clarify any misunderstanding that has led to the 10 per cent levy, he added.

"The US-Singapore FTA has been a very important FTA for both countries, and has benefited the US significantly. US imports to Singapore have enjoyed zero tariffs for more than two decades. They have also enjoyed a significant, substantial trade surplus with Singapore, amounting to $30 billion," he said.

"We are, of course, naturally disappointed."

"Under the FTA, we have recourse. We are able to take countermeasures and also seek dispute resolution. However, we have decided not to do so because imposing retaliatory import duties will just add costs to our imports from the US, and this will affect our consumers and businesses," he added.

"We will reach out and engage our US counterparts and better understand their concerns, see how we can work together constructively to address some of these concerns."

Meanwhile, Singapore will double down on efforts to continue to keep its economy open, and to uphold the prevailing system of open, fair and free trade among like-minded countries, said DPM Gan.

He noted that the Republic is currently part of 27 free trade agreements, which open up avenues for its businesses to explore a presence abroad and expand beyond Singapore's shores.

It will also engage its other trade partners, especially fellow Asean member countries, to see how they can work together to keep their economies ticking.

"Asean is a natural platform to have a conversation with our fellow ministers to see what we can do, how we can come together, to further deepen our integration," said DPM Gan.

For instance, Asean ministers can discuss how they can help support one another, he added, citing how some of these tariffs may cause supplies to be interrupted, and some countries may need to look for alternative supplies.

At the same time, Singapore will continue to work with like-minded partners across the world to strengthen the World Trade Organisation.

"It is very important for us to make sure that we continue to strengthen and preserve the multilateral system to the extent possible, because this will provide the basis for collaboration for international trade under a rules-based order," said the minister.

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Abuse, death of four-year-old girl: Mum jailed 19 years, boyfriend gets 30 years’ jail, 17 strokes | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/19-years-jail-for-mum-who-abused-4-year-old-girl-whose-body-was-burned-after-she-died

Abuse, death of four-year-old girl: Mum jailed 19 years, boyfriend gets 30 years' jail, 17 strokes

Megan Khung died after her mother Foo Li Ping's boyfriend Wong Shi Xiang punched her in the stomach.PHOTOS: CCXXCXCX/INSTAGRAM, SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS READER, INSTAGRAM

SINGAPORE – The mother of four-year-old Megan Khung, who was abused and humiliated for more than a year before she died in 2020, was sentenced to 19 years' jail on April 3.

Foo Li Ping, 29, had pleaded guilty on Feb 28 to one count of child abuse, one count of allowing the death of a child, and one count of intentional disposal of a corpse to impede investigations.

Another count of child abuse was considered in sentencing.

Foo's then boyfriend, Wong Shi Xiang, 38, was sentenced to 30 years' jail and 17 strokes of the cane.

He had pleaded guilty to one count of culpable homicide for killing Megan, one count of intentional disposal of a corpse, one count of drug trafficking, and one count of drug consumption.

Another 11 charges, mostly for drug-related offences, were considered in sentencing.

Foo and Wong had caned and slapped Megan, deprived the girl of food and clothes, and made her sleep at the balcony of their rented condominium unit in Paya Lebar.

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Megan was also forced to wear soiled diapers over her head, forced to eat food from the dustbin, and forced to eat her mother's mucus – acts that were captured on video.

The physical and emotional abuse culminated in her death at the age of four, after Wong punched her in the stomach on Feb 21, 2020.

The couple burned Megan's body in a custom-made metal barrel on May 8, 2020, after conducting research and experiments on ways to incinerate a corpse.

Megan's ashes were never recovered.

A friend of the couple, Nouvelle Chua Ruoshi, 35, who abused drugs with them at their unit at Suites @ Guillemard, has also been charged in connection with Megan's death.

Her case is pending in the State Courts.

For more than a year, Megan Khung was abused by her mother Foo Li Ping and her boyfriend Wong Shi Xiang at their rented condominium unit in Paya Lebar.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

Megan's parents were married in 2015, the year she was born.

Her father, Mr Khung Wei Nan, 37, is a businessman and content creator known as simonboy.

After their relationship broke down, Foo and Megan lived with Foo's mother.

In January 2019, Foo moved in with Wong at the condo unit he was renting. Megan remained with her grandmother and stayed with the couple on some weekends.

Between late February and early March in 2019, the couple began caning Megan, who was then three years old.

In March 2019, staff at the girl's pre-school noticed bruises on her face, arms and feet. They told the couple that any abuse would be referred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

On Sept 17, 2019, Foo withdrew Megan from the pre-school. The abuse escalated that month, when the girl began living with the couple.

On July 20, 2020, Megan's father made a police report, saying he was concerned about her whereabouts and safety.

Mr Khung said he last saw her in February 2017, after which he was incarcerated. He has previously been reported as serving a three-year sentence at a drug rehabilitation centre.

Wong Shi Xiang (left) and Foo Li Ping had caned and slapped Megan, and deprived the girl of food and clothes.ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO

Following the police report, Foo, Wong and Chua were arrested on July 24, 2020.

They had recorded videos of many abusive acts, some of which were shown in court on Feb 28.

On April 3, before sentencing Foo and Wong, High Court Justice Hoo Sheau Peng recounted the facts to underscore the pair's "heinous, deplorable and violent conduct". 

Justice Hoo noted that for months, Megan pleaded with her mother for food, clothing and to be able to leave the planter box where she was forced to sleep.

"Her pitiful pleas fell on deaf ears, and a hardened heart; Foo's reaction was to taunt, mock, and berate Megan," said the judge.

Justice Hoo noted that by February 2020, Megan was in an emaciated state, and a mere shadow of her previous self.

The judge added that the deliberate recording of Megan in distressing situations showed the pair's "absolute depravity".

"For their own sadistic ends, the accused persons robbed Megan of her basic dignity," said the judge.

Justice Hoo added that after Megan died, Foo and Wong continued to display utter callousness and cruelty. They resorted to unorthodox and harmful methods, including blowing drug fumes into Megan's mouth, in an attempt to resuscitate her.

And over months, in the interests of self-preservation, they cold-heartedly planned and then deviously carried out the disposal of Megan's body. 

"At the end of her life, they denied Megan of the dignity of a proper laying to rest," said Justice Hoo.

In sentencing Foo, the judge noted that Megan's mother deliberately deprived the girl of food to prevent her from defecating around the house, and deliberately deprived her of clothes to prevent her from staining themwith blood from her wounds.

Megan was made to sleep in the planter box at the balcony outside the master bedroom.PHOTO: COURT DOCUMENTS

Foo also adamantly refused to give Megan any clothes despite the child's repeated pleas, and made Megan sleep in the planter box to prevent her from dirtying the flat.

Foo also made Megan eat her mucus in response to Chua's suggestion to do so. "This manner of abuse was designed to offer Foo and (Chua) sadistic amusement," said the judge.

Justice Hoo also referred to the prior intervention by the staff at Megan's pre-school, who had, on more than one occasion, warned Foo not to punish Megan physically.

"Foo acknowledged this. Yet, she proceeded to withdraw Megan from the pre-school, and escalated the abuse."

Justice Hoo also pointed to the highly sophisticated manner in which the pair had incinerated the corpse, leaving no trace of Megan, and that Foo had done so to cover up how the girl had died at their hands.

The prosecution had on Feb 28 asked for 15 to 20 years' jail for Foo, saying the case involved a gross abnegation of parental duties.

Her lawyers, Mr Josephus Tan and Mr Cory Wong, who are acting pro bono, had argued for not more than 11 years' jail.

Foo submitted handwritten letters alleging that she was a victim of domestic abuse and expressing regret over her actions. 

Justice Hoo said she saw no mitigating value in the letters. Even if it was true that Foo had been abused, it did not absolve her of any liability.

Turning to Wong, the judge said his acts of abuse were "intense, persistent, cruel and humiliating".

He caned Megan, hit her with objects such as a water hose and a baton, punched her, and taught Foo how to inflict pain on her without leaving visible injuries.

He also forced Megan to eat food from the bin, drew all over her face and paraded her in public, in addition to starving her, depriving her of clothes, and making her sleep in the planter box.

Wong also exploited Megan's fear of water by spraying water onto her face with the bidet sprayer in the toilet. On one occasion, Wong hit Megan so hard that her jaw became crooked.

His fatal punch in February 2020 was inflicted because he was triggered by his own perception that Megan had failed to respond to his admonishment.

Even after Megan became unresponsive, he prioritised trying to cover up his own offences, and did not bring back a defibrillator he had located for fear of prosecution.

The prosecution had sought a sentence of 28 to 30 years' jail and 15 to 17 strokes of the cane for Wong.

His lawyer, Mr Vinit Chhabra, sought between 20 and 22 years' jail with 11 strokes of the cane.

Justice Hoo said she gave no weight to the claim in Wong's mitigation plea that he was under the influence of methamphetamine and was merely trying to discipline Megan. Wong's consumption of drugs would, if anything, be aggravating, she noted.

Justice Hoo concluded by saying that these are heavy sentences.

"To reiterate, when parents or caregivers abuse their children in ways which torment them physically, mentally and emotionally, the court must, on behalf of society, impose stiff punishment reflecting the disapprobation of such conduct," she said.

Both Foo and Wong looked expressionless as their sentences were read out.

Foo Li Ping was allowed to talk to her mother and other relatives after the court session ended.ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO

Foo was allowed to talk to her mother and other relatives after the court session ended. As they held hands, Foo cried and apologised to her mother in Mandarin.

Her mother told her to take care of herself and be a good person.

"I will wait for you to be released from prison," her mother said tearfully.

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