The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has obtained a court order against a man who operated three immigration consultancy companies accused of unfair trade practices.
The order, issued by the District Court on 22 July 2025, requires Cheng Yong Teck to cease all misleading sales practices immediately.
It also compels him to publish details of the order in major local newspapers and on all marketing platforms used by his businesses.
Cheng must also inform prospective clients of the order before entering into contracts and notify CCCS of any changes to his business structure or his employment, control, or ownership status.
According to CCCS, this is the first time it has taken legal action against an individual who set up new companies to avoid detection for unfair trading.
Businesses falsely claimed urgency and guaranteed PR approval to customers
Cheng owned and operated Paul Immigrations, VED Immigrations, and SAVA Immigrations.
All three were accused of making false claims to potential clients about the urgency of applying for Singapore permanent residency (PR) and of guaranteeing application success if services were used.
The investigation began after the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received multiple complaints about the marketing practices of Paul Immigrations.
CCCS found that after Paul Immigrations ceased operations, Cheng continued the same practices under VED Immigrations.
Further checks revealed that he was also running SAVA Immigrations.
Investigators reported that the websites of the three companies invited potential clients to complete an online form to assess their likelihood of PR approval.
However, instead of receiving online results, applicants were contacted by phone and invited to attend “free consultations”.
During these sessions, sales staff allegedly made unsubstantiated claims that PR rules were changing rapidly and that competition for approvals was intense, in order to push clients to sign up quickly.
The staff also promised guaranteed approval of PR applications if clients used the companies’ services.
Some clients paid up to S$10,000 for these services
CCCS determined these claims had no reasonable basis other than to secure sales.
Some affected customers paid up to S$10,000 for these services.
According to CCCS, Cheng personally directed the operations of the three businesses and implemented the misleading sales strategies.
He drafted scripts for staff to follow, monitored their interactions with customers via closed-circuit television, and used a system of rewards and penalties to enforce compliance with his methods.
When one company came under investigation, he closed it and reopened under a different name to avoid enforcement.
Cheng allegedly used new company names to evade detection
CCCS Chief Executive Alvin Koh stated that the businesses had exploited customers’ insecurities and unfamiliarity with the immigration process to charge substantial fees for services based on false assurances.
“The mastermind attempted to evade detection by closing the initial business while continuing the same practices through other businesses. ”
He added that CCCS “will not hesitate to take similar legal action” in future cases of unfair trade practices.
Members of the public can report such practices to CASE by calling 6277 5100 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or submitting complaints online at the official portal.
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