A Singaporean woman, Dionne-Edna Lin Lilian, has been charged with two counts each of cheating and falsely posing as a Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) representative. She allegedly lied about her “death” to another woman, Chow Chou Fun, and scammed her into paying S$160,000 in “burial costs” and “legal fees” for an “inheritance.”, reported CNA.
According to the charge sheets, Lin allegedly posed as a law professional from LawSoc to cheat Chow into thinking Lin was dead around Jan. 7, 2019. Lin allegedly tricked Chow into paying S$6,350 to cover “burial costs.” From Feb. 20, 2019, to Mar. 18, 2019, Lin also allegedly posed as one “Daslin Ang” from the Legal Aid Bureau of LawSoc.
Lin then allegedly pretended to be one “Phil Tong” from LawSoc’s Legal Aid Bureau from May 27, 2019, to Jun. 10, 2019. On 47 occasions across the period of Jan. 11, 2019, to Jun. 9, 2019, Lin allegedly lied to Chow about an “inheritance” for her in Lin’s will. Under the guise of Ang, she then allegedly told Chow that she had to pay her another S$153,125 in supposed “legal processing fees” to receive the “inheritance.”
Lin’s case was adjourned for a pre-trial conference in March 2024. If convicted of cheating, she could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Lin may be sentenced to a maximum of six months in jail or a fine of up to S$25,000, or both, for posing as a LawSoc representative and face double the penalties if she’s a repeat offender.
It is unclear if the women are related, and the motive behind the scam is still under investigation. The case highlights the importance of verifying the identity and legitimacy of individuals who claim to represent legal or financial institutions. It also serves as a reminder to be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited claims or offers, especially those involving large sums of money.