In a shocking turn of events, Nicol Teo Chee Kang, a 31-year-old former full-time Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) national serviceman, has been sentenced to two years and six months in jail for orchestrating a series of scams, according to The Straits Times.
Teo, who made over $194,000 in illicit gains, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including four counts of cheating. The victims of his scams ranged from his then-SCDF supervisor to unsuspecting teenage boys.
Deceptive Tactics Targeting SCDF Supervisor
Teo’s first victim was his SCDF supervisor, a 47-year-old female paramedic. Exploiting her recent property purchase, Teo concocted a scheme involving his fictitious sister’s renovation services. He convinced the supervisor to engage these services for her new Housing Board flat, claiming his sister had connections that would streamline the process.
Teo created a fictional HDB officer named “Janice Tan” and communicated with the victim between Nov 24, 2020, and Dec 29, 2021. Under the guise of administrative requirements, he tricked the supervisor into transferring funds for renovation certificates and fire insurance. The scam involved over 75 instances of deceit.
The supervisor discovered the deception when she contacted HDB and promptly reported the incidents to the police in January 2022. Teo admitted to using the ill-gotten money for personal expenses and has since repaid $3,000.
Targeting Vulnerable Teenagers
Teo extended his deceptive practices to three teenage boys, aged between 17 and 19, whom he targeted through personal connections. One of the boys had familial ties to Teo’s mistress, complicating the dynamics of the scams.
Teo exploited the teenagers’ naivety by presenting a fictitious investment opportunity, promising lucrative returns. The boys collectively transferred over $64,000 to Teo, falling victim to his manipulative tactics.
When confronted by the mother of one of the teenagers, Teo resorted to creating a false narrative, blaming non-existent scammers named “Jia Jing” and “Jared.” He deleted relevant messages from the teenager’s phone and coerced him into giving a false statement to the police.
Teo extended his scams to unrelated victims, including a woman deceived into transferring $3,600 and a 50-year-old man who suffered losses of nearly $49,000.
Legal Consequences and the Fallout
As a result of his illicit activities, Nicol Teo Chee Kang received a two-year-and-six-month jail sentence. The legal consequences also extend to the nine-year prohibition orders imposed by Singapore’s central bank for transgressions at 3AC.
The ripple effects of Teo’s scams include the emotional and financial distress inflicted upon his victims, showcasing the far-reaching consequences of fraudulent activities.