Indian-Origin Man Sentenced for Cheating Singaporean Woman

Overview of the Case

A 31-year-old man of Indian origin, Thevendran, was recently sentenced to two years in prison for cheating a 25-year-old woman in Singapore out of more than S$268,000 (approximately Rs 1.6 crore). Their interactions began on Carousell, a popular e-commerce platform in Singapore, and quickly escalated into deceitful financial transactions over a seven-month period.

Building a False Friendship

Thevendran led the victim to believe they had a genuine friendship, continually requesting money for various fabricated reasons. He claimed that he needed funds for court-related expenses, bail, dental bills, and other necessities. In reality, he was using the money to support his gambling addiction, as reported by Mothership.

The Start of the Scam

The fraudulent activities commenced on July 24, 2021, when Thevendran listed a PlayStation 4 on Carousell. The woman made an initial payment of S$150 for a deposit, anticipating delivery within seven days. Following that, she transferred an additional S$49 for games that were never delivered.

Continued Deception Over Several Months

After the initial transaction, Thevendran frequently communicated with the woman via Carousell and WhatsApp. Between August 17, 2021, and January 9, 2022, he manipulated her into sending money on 57 occasions. On several requests, he even convinced her to transfer amounts as large as S$10,000.

Awareness of the Victim’s Financial Status

By August 18, 2021, Thevendran was aware that the funds were sourced from the woman’s insurance and CPF payouts following her mother’s death. Despite knowing that she had exhausted her savings by December 2021, he continued to pressure her for more money. He did return a total of S$5,000 on three occasions, but the deceit remained largely unaddressed.

Discovery and Legal Proceedings

The scam came to light when the victim transferred S$26,000 from her father’s bank account without his consent, prompting a police investigation. In total, Thevendran defrauded her of around S$268,520.

During the sentencing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Suriya Prakash highlighted that Thevendran persisted in his actions even after realizing that the victim had no money left. The defense lawyer argued that Thevendran was aware of the seriousness of his actions, had received counseling, and had not committed any offenses in the past four years.

Judicial Considerations

District Judge Janet Wang took into account the psychological harm and financial loss sustained by the victim. She also noted Thevendran’s voluntary repayment of S$104,000, which accounted for around 40% of the total sum cheated from the woman. Thevendran ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of cheating during a prior court hearing.

Conclusion

This case sheds light on the alarming issue of online scams and the lengths some individuals will go to exploit others emotionally and financially. It serves as a reminder for online users to exercise caution and to remain vigilant while engaging in digital transactions.