Loan sharks harass Yishun resident with bags of cement, funeral wreaths, and God of Wealth 'advertisement'
Loan sharks have resorted to increasingly elaborate harassment tactics in a bid to get a debtor to pay up, says a Yishun resident who borrowed $8,000 from illegal moneylenders.
They include sending bags of cement and funeral wreaths to the man's home, and even putting up a fake advertisement featuring the God of Wealth at his lift lobby, complete with his home address and phone number.
A reader told Shin Min Daily News that a poster was spotted on Nov 20 at the void deck of Block 476B, Yishun Street 44.
The poster featured an image of the God of Wealth, with a large headshot of a man and his home address printed beneath it, inviting those interested in joining a "retreat centre" to visit his unit.
A separate note pasted on the poster accused the man of "cheating money and women", listing his name and phone number along with the details of alleged "assistants".
When Shin Min reporters visited the area, the poster had already been removed, though several residents confirmed they had seen it. Mr Wong (transliterated), the 42-year-old delivery rider who was featured in the poster, clarified that it was put up by loan sharks.
Man says he has already repaid his debt
Mr Wong told Shin Min that he had borrowed $8,000 from loan sharks earlier this year and had since paid off the amount. However, the syndicate continued to harass him, demanding that he pay an additional $10,000.
"I've already repaid what I owed. I can't keep doing this anymore, so they started harassing me," he said.
He added that his father noticed the fake ad and alerted him. He lodged a police report, and officers removed the poster. "The loan sharks also sent threatening messages that night, saying they would not leave me alone until I paid up."
Mr Wong said the loan sharks previously sent funeral wreaths and several bags of cement to his home, leaving them piled at his doorstep.
The repeated harassment has taken a toll on his family and children, leaving him guilt-ridden and helpless. "I really can't do anything now. I just hope this doesn't affect my family. I want the harassment to stop."
In response to Stomp's queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
'My biggest regret is dragging my wife and children into this'
Mr Wong said that he once ran a logistics company, but lost everything that he invested in the business for various reasons.
He added that the collapse of his business and the responsibility of supporting three children put great strain on him. "I felt I had no choice but to borrow money," he said. "My biggest regret is dragging my wife and children into this."
He has since installed a surveillance camera at his doorstep.
