Singapore man loses S$80,000 to online romance scam, then defrauded again

The victim had developed what he believed to be a genuine romantic relationship with a woman he met online, communicating regularly over a three-year period. During their interactions, he was eventually persuaded to transfer S$80,000, believing the money was needed for a legitimate purpose related to their relationship.

When the man sought to recover his lost funds, he engaged what appeared to be a lawyer to assist with his case. However, the legal representative turned out to be another scammer operating under false pretenses. The fake lawyer proceeded to defraud the victim of additional money while purportedly handling his case.

The incident highlights the compounding risks faced by romance scam victims who, having lost significant sums, may be particularly vulnerable to secondary fraud attempts by criminals posing as legal professionals or recovery agents. Police have not yet disclosed details regarding any ongoing investigations or arrests in connection with either scam.

Authorities continue to urge members of the public to exercise caution when engaging in online relationships with unknown individuals and to verify the credentials of legal representatives through official channels before transferring funds.