A polytechnic student managed to orchestrate a scam on the popular online marketplace Carousell, leaving a trail of 147 victims who fell prey to his scheme to purchase mobile phones, according to The Straits Times.
Teo Jun Hao, the mastermind behind the scam, successfully swindled these unsuspecting individuals out of a staggering total of $360,600 before he fled to Thailand with his girlfriend and the ill-gotten gains, using the money to indulge in gambling activities.
He then returned to Singapore about 2 weeks later and was arrested, before being sentenced to 4 years and 4 months imprisonment on 22 August.
A Web of Deception Unveiled
The story of Teo’s elaborate scam unraveled when his victims realized they had been duped. Teo, a 24-year-old polytechnic student, employed a calculated strategy to manipulate the trust of those seeking mobile phones at discounted rates on Carousell. What appeared to be a legitimate offer turned out to be a well-planned ruse that targeted the victims’ desire for a good deal.
Teo’s scam involved posting enticing advertisements on Carousell, where he claimed to have brand-new iPhones and other devices available for purchase at remarkably low prices. These offers lured potential buyers, who were unaware that Teo had no intention of fulfilling their orders.
To bolster his credibility, Teo even enlisted friends from his polytechnic to craft fictitious positive reviews for his Carousell account, creating an illusion of trustworthiness.
Between August 27 and October 1, 2022, Teo engaged with 147 victims, falsely assuring them that he was selling genuine mobile phones.
As the victims fell for his misleading offers, they transferred a total of $360,600 to his bank account. Unfortunately, none of the buyers received the devices they had paid for.
Teo’s web of deception extended to his girlfriend, Vanessa Chew Shi Qing, who was also arrested in connection with the scheme. Chew’s involvement in the scam is pending investigation. Teo even involved a friend, Bryan Lim, in his efforts to conceal his illegal money from the scams.
Suspecting that his bank account might have been frozen by the authorities, Teo and Chew decided to flee to Thailand.
On September 28, 2022, the pair left Singapore with cash amounting to $20,000 and two gold chains worth nearly $33,000.
Teo enlisted Bryan Lim to assist in hiding his ill-gotten funds. Lim facilitated fund transfers and concealed the money through various transactions, such as depositing portions of it into Chew’s bank account.
The Unraveling and Consequences
The victims of Teo’s scam began to file police reports between October 1 and 17, 2022. As the scale of the scam became evident, a warrant was issued for Teo’s arrest. An Interpol Red Notice was also linked to his case, urging law enforcement worldwide to locate and apprehend him.
Teo was eventually apprehended upon his return to Singapore on October 25, 2022. He pleaded guilty to charges of cheating and benefiting from criminal activities, leading to a sentence of four years and four months in jail. While Teo has yet to make restitution, law enforcement managed to seize over $40,600 from various bank accounts associated with him, Lim, and Chew.