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AsiaOne
30-07-2025
- AsiaOne
Love scam: Man transfers $120k to online 'China girlfriend' of 2 years after sale of Ang Mo Kio flat, Singapore News
Convinced by his online 'girlfriend' to live out his retirement years in China with her, a man reportedly gave up his HDB flat and transferred over $120,000 to her. With just a few thousand left in his bank account and nowhere to go, he sought help from a friend, who told him he had fallen for a love scam. Chen (not his real name), 59, told Shin Min Daily News that he met his 'lover' on Facebook in 2023. The woman claimed to be divorced and in her 30s, and said she is from Hangzhou. An internet romance bloomed between the pair, who started calling each other "wife" and "husband". A few months after they started dating, Chen's 'girlfriend' said she was experiencing financial difficulties and asked if he could lend her money. "It started with a few thousand dollars," he recalled. "She said she needed it for living expenses, and as a couple, helping each other is normal." He added that the woman would sometimes cry when telling him about her life hardships. Suggested he sell his flat Over time, Chen had sent her $30,000 to $40,000 of his savings. Then, the woman suggested he sell his Ang Mo Kio flat and move to China to live with her. According to Shin Min, Chen returned his three-room flat under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) scheme and received compensation of about $123,000. He wired this sum to his 'girlfriend' across several bank transfers within the span of a year, even as bank staff reportedly tried to intervene. Chen told the Chinese publication that the bank had called to warn he could be a victim of fraud, but he had insisted he was making transfers to a friend. He said his transfer limit was reduced to $200 a day, so he would withdraw cash at the bank and transfer the money at an ATM. "I was so obstinate then. Thinking back now, it was childish," he said. The scam started to become obvious when Chen's 'girlfriend' cut off contact with him this April, claiming that her grandmother had died and she must observe a six-month mourning period. She had also deleted some of their chat records. Chen's friend, whom he had sought help from, persuaded him that it was a love scam, showing him reports of similar cases. The man said he finally lodged a police report on July 21 and decided to share his story to raise awareness. The police confirmed to Shin Min they had received a report and are investigating. Chen also said he will search for a new job to support himself and rent a flat, to avoid troubling his friend for a long time. "The money is already gone, and I can't change what happened, there's no point in regretting. I caused this; I was blinded by love," he expressed. "I can still work now, so I'll work hard to earn the money back and recover." [[nid:681697]]
AsiaOne
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- AsiaOne
PHV drivers rally to raise funds after Grab driver dies suddenly, leaving behind 2 children, Singapore News
Several private-hire vehicle (PHV) drivers are rallying to raise funds for the family a Grab driver who died suddenly from a stroke, leaving behind two teenage children. Gavin Neo, a 49-year-old single father, died on Thursday (May 29), according to an obituary notice shared within a Facebook group for PHV drivers. According to user Lambo Lee who first made the announcement, Neo had suffered a stroke on Tuesday, two days before his death. In their posts, several other drivers also appealed for donations to the family, affirming Neo's hardworking personality and dedication to his children as the sole breadwinner. 'It's for my kids and their future' Neo was also known to work up to 16 hours daily, drinking three cans of Red Bull just to stay awake, according to Lee. After working through the night, he would then rush home to send his daughter to school before sleeping and repeating the cycle. "Gavin was a humble and down-to-earth guy, [who] always shares his experience with his peers and newer drivers in the same trade," wrote Facebook user Bryan Ang, another friend of Neo's. Ang also shared a personal anecdote where he would sometimes ask Neo why he always opted for the cheapest meal — a $3.80 plate of chicken rice. "It's for my kids and their future," Neo would say, spending frugally so that he could support his children as much as possible, shared Ang. Wrote another driver: "He has two kids, he is someone that doesn't spend on himself, he doesn't buy branded [goods] or eat expensive food. He doesn't drink or gamble, all his money goes to his kids." Neo's long hours earned him a four-star rating and a Diamond Tier on Grab, which is only awarded to the top 10 per cent of drivers on the platform who complete up to 2,000 trips every three months — an average of 22 trips a day — according to a driver whom Shin Min Daily News spoke to. Not covered by insurance Neo was not a member of the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), according to Kelvin Lam, a fellow PHV driver who also vouched for Neo's tireless work ethic in a lengthy Facebook post. Without the insurance coverage that is offered to members, he is "not entitled for the additional $40k death support which may help to tide the family in this difficult time", Lam added. He appealed to netizens to send donations to Neo's family "to help his children tide over a few years more till adulthood". "If you can afford, a simple token, crowdfunding is ongoing now, can PayNow however big or small an amount, every drop helps make the ocean," he said. Family still in shock Neo's family is still struggling to come to terms with his sudden death, according to his sister who spoke to Shin Min at the wake. She attested that her brother worked long hours every day to provide for his two children. While she was surprised by the outpouring of support online, she also expressed gratitude for the concern shown. "We appreciate it and hope everyone can give our family some space," she told Shin Min. [[nid:717685]]
