World · Singapore Bureau
Man charged with defrauding elderly scam victim of $112,500
A man has been charged with cheating an elderly friend out of more than $112,000 by falsely claiming he could recover money lost in a previous scam. The accused allegedly exploited the victim's vulnerability after learning of his financial losses.
LSN Singapore ·
The accused man faces charges of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, according to court documents. Authorities allege he targeted the elderly victim by offering assistance in retrieving funds that had been lost to scammers, a common predatory tactic known as recovery fraud or "honour scams."
The victim, having already fallen prey to an initial scam, was reportedly persuaded to hand over approximately $112,500 to the accused, who promised to facilitate the recovery of his losses. The accused is said to have convinced the elderly man that he possessed the necessary connections or expertise to retrieve the stolen funds.
Recovery scams typically prey on earlier victims by offering false hope of financial restitution in exchange for upfront payments or sensitive personal information. Authorities continue to warn the public, particularly elderly residents, about such schemes that exploit people already victimised by fraud.
The case underscores the vulnerability of scam victims to secondary exploitation. Police have urged members of the public to exercise caution when approached with offers of financial recovery and to verify such claims through official channels before making any payments.