SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man was sentenced to 46 months in jail on Monday (Nov 17), after he was convicted of four counts of cheating, the Singapore Police Force and the Office of the Commissioner of Charities said in a joint press statement.
Another eight counts of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code and three counts of theft in a dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code were also taken into consideration in the sentencing of 42-year-old Lim Kah Kheng.
Lim had run a scam operation targeting residential areas. It affected more than 12,600 victims and collected fraudulent donations of over S$106,000.
The press statement says that the Police first learned about Lim’s misdeeds on Jun 24, 2024, when they received a report about a man who was going around knocking on doors and asking for donations in the vicinity of Bedok North Street 3.
Upon launching an investigation into the matter, they discovered that Lim’s operations had been ongoing for several years. From Jan 28, 2020, to June 24, 2024, Lim had been the mastermind behind a donation scam. He created fake staff passes and counterfeit documents to carry out his scheme, and recruited and lied to seven people into working with him, believing that they were part of legitimate charitable activities under the guise of social entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the members of the public who donated to the “charities” also believed their money was going toward a good cause.
Police officers from the Bedok Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and were able to determine Lim’s identity. He was caught and arrested on the same day that the report against him was made.
An individual who commits the offence of cheating may be fined and imprisoned for a maximum of 10 years.
The Police and the Office of the Commissioner of Charities reminded the public to stay vigilant against this type of donation scam.
The statement added the following safer giving and crime prevention tips:
- When approached by fund-raisers, be discerning and do not feel pressured to donate immediately. Most fund-raising appeals are genuine, but it is always good to find out more about it first and ensure your support is going to a trusted cause. Scammers often use real-world circumstances, such as during a crisis or disaster, or impersonate the names of familiar, trusted organisations to exploit people to donate.
- Always Ask and Check, before you Give. First, ask questions such as who the beneficiary is, how the donations will be used, and how much of the donation goes to the beneficiary. Next, verify the legitimacy of the fund-raising appeal by checking the Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg) if the fund-raiser is a registered charity in Singapore or is a valid foreign fund-raising permit holder.
- Never send money or give personal information, credit card details or online account details to anyone you do not know or trust.
- Do not feel pressured to give if you have concerns or suspect that an appeal for donations is not legitimate. If in doubt, donate directly through the organisation’s official website.
- Those who suspect a fraud or scam should file a Police report immediately. Suspicious charitable fund-raising activities should be reported to the COC at [email protected]. More information can be found at go.gov.sg/safergiving. /TISG
