Elderly Woman Duped in Scary Impersonation Scheme

In a shocking turn of events in Singapore, a 44-year-old man named Jong Yew Sin has been charged for his alleged role in a disturbing impersonation scam that nearly cost an elderly woman a staggering $180,000.

How the Scheme Unfolded

On September 1, Malaysian national Jong was officially charged with conspiracy to use a forged document as genuine and possession of fraudulent materials. The saga began on August 30, when the police were alerted by UOB bank about a suspicious cheque cashing attempt at one of their branches.

Within half an hour, authorities tracked down Jong and apprehended him, unveiling a chilling narrative. Preliminary investigations indicated that he was trying to encash a cheque worth $180,000, linked to a report of a governmental impersonation, allegedly from the Ministry of Law.

The Victim's Harrowing Experience

The victim, a 65-year-old woman, was misled into believing she was embroiled in a money laundering scheme. On August 29, the scammers convinced her to transfer her savings into a UOB account for purported investigation purposes, promising her that the funds would be returned after the inquiries.

In a desperate attempt to comply, she transferred approximately $40,000 to an unknown OCBC Bank account and handed over five blank cheques to a stranger posing as an investigation officer, who met her near her home.

A Network of Deceit

Jong was allegedly instructed by a scam syndicate to handle one of the victim’s pre-signed cheques and cash it at UOB’s main branch in Raffles Place. When taken into custody, he was found in possession of the cheque and two unidentified Malaysian UOB ATM cards.

Escalating Scam Trends

As alarming as this case is, it falls in line with rising scam statistics. Recent reports show that impersonation scams have skyrocketed, increasing from 589 cases in the first half of 2024 to an astonishing 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025. Victims of such scams lost a jaw-dropping $126.5 million in the first six months of this year.

A Warning to the Community

In light of these events, the police have issued a stern reminder to the public: legitimate government officials will never request personal information or money over the phone. Moreover, they won't ask individuals to install unverified applications or transfer calls to the police.

With over $456 million lost to scams and nearly 20,000 cases reported so far in 2025, it's imperative for everyone to remain vigilant and informed.