A Shocking Fraud Case in Singapore

In a shocking turn of events in Singapore, former human resources sales agent Lim Yi Xiang, 29, has been sentenced to one year and two weeks in prison for deceiving a client into paying S$31,020 (approximately US$22,850) under false pretenses. This case serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of fraud in the business world.

Charges and Court Proceedings

Lim pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including cheating and absconding while under investigation. The court heard that Lim was working as a sales sub-agent for Weistum Advisory, a human resources firm that ultimately reported him to the police for fraudulent activities.

How the Scam Unfolded

In 2019, Lim took advantage of an online advertisement posted by the director of a trading company, who was seeking to hire four workers. He convinced the director that he could aid in their recruitment and help secure two government grants. One of these, known as the Career Trial grant, would require the director to pay S$8,640, which Lim claimed was 30% of the grant amount, alongside an additional S$4,640 for recruitment services.

Lim further asserted that the second grant, called P Max, would yield a S$30,000 payment after employees completed government-specified training. He misrepresented the costs associated with this grant, asking for a total of S$17,740. The unsuspecting director, trusting Lim’s seemingly legitimate offer, proceeded to sign a doctored contract that included Lim’s personal bank account number instead of the company's.

The Scheme Unravels

However, the scheme began to unravel when Lim continuously failed to deliver on his promises. In January 2021, the director of the trading company contacted Weistum to clarify the situation and was shocked to discover that the company charged only S$5,760 for the grant application and no fees for P Max services. This prompted Weistum’s director to lodge a police report against Lim.

Evasion and Arrest

Following the report, it was discovered that Lim had been evading law enforcement efforts, including multiple attempts to contact him for further investigation. He managed to abscond from bail and went on the run, leading to three separate police gazettes being issued for his arrest.

Lim was ultimately apprehended on February 4, 2022, after which he was released on bail, with the stipulation that he remain available for investigations. In a bizarre turn of events, Lim failed to report to the police again in March 2022 and became untraceable once more, leading to additional arrest warrants being issued.

Wider Fraudulent Activities