Man arrested after knocking on doors and asking for donations in Bedok North, scammer gets 46 months' jail
A man who deceived members of the public into making donations under false pretences was jailed 46 months on Nov 17.
Singaporean Lim Kah Kheng, 42, was convicted on four counts of cheating. Another eight counts of cheating and three counts of theft in dwelling were also taken into consideration for the purpose of sentencing.
On June 24, 2024, the police received a report that a man was going around, knocking on doors and asking for donations at Bedok North Street 3.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the man's identity and arrested him on the same day.
His arrest led to Lim.
Further investigations revealed that between Jan 28, 2020, and June 24, 2024, Lim orchestrated a donation scam by creating counterfeit staff passes and fraudulent documents.
Using an edited copy of document bearing the company name "A Nation of Love", Lim claimed he was conducting a Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Under the guise of social entrepreneurship and charitable work, he recruited and misled seven individuals into believing they were participating in legitimate charitable activities, and ultimately deceived members of the public into making donations under false pretences.
The scam operation, which targeted residential areas, affected more than 12,600 people and collected fraudulent donations exceeding $106,000.
Lim was also charged for stealing three pairs of Xceed Bluetooth wireless earbuds, worth a total of $165, from a 7-Eleven at Hotel 81 Chinatown on Jan 12, 2023.
In a joint statement, the police and the Office of the Commissioner of Charities reminded the public to stay vigilant against such donation scams.
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.
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.
Suspicious charitable fund-raising activities should be reported to the Commissioner of Charities at mccy_charities@mccy.gov.sg.
