A 37-year-old man in Punggol has been subjected to repeated harassment after his foreign domestic worker’s personal details were misused by a loan shark, leading to unwanted food deliveries at his doorstep.
The issue began on 17 August, when the man returned home from dinner with his family and discovered a GrabFood delivery rider waiting outside his flat. Although the order appeared to have been made under his helper’s name, he quickly noticed the spelling was off by one letter. When confronted, his helper insisted she had not placed the order and admitted that two other deliveries had already arrived earlier that evening, reported Shin Min Daily News.
All three were cash-on-delivery orders, which neither the man nor his helper accepted. He explained the situation to the riders and asked them to report the incidents to GrabFood. Unfortunately, the harassment continued the next day with more deliveries, including fried bee hoon and nasi lemak sets worth around S$36. In most cases, the food cost about S$30 per order. Some riders took the food back, while others simply left it at his doorstep.
Loan shark link uncovered
The situation escalated when the maid eventually admitted that she had shared her personal details with an acquaintance in Hong Kong. That acquaintance allegedly used the information to borrow S$470 from a loan shark, with repayment of S$670 due on 17 August. Unable to settle the debt, the borrower’s actions triggered harassment against the Singapore employer.
According to the man, the person in Hong Kong got another foreign domestic worker in Singapore to register a SIM card under local details. Using this, they borrowed money from the loan shark through a Singapore phone number and a local bank account. Although his maid had not directly contacted the loan shark, her data was implicated.
The man’s wife also expressed concern that her own name and address had been leaked, making the case even more complicated. She noted that the Hong Kong acquaintance had once asked the maid to request money from them to repay her debts, raising doubts about possible deeper involvement.
Police response and preventive measures
Police confirmed that reports had been lodged and investigations are ongoing. To protect himself, the man placed a sign outside his door stating that he had filed a police report and had not ordered any food. He also received a solar-powered alarm sensor from the police, which can emit a 129-decibel siren alongside flashing red and blue warning lights when triggered. However, he remains hesitant to use the alarm fully, worried that the loud noise might disturb his neighbours.
The troubling case highlights how easily personal information can be misused by loan sharks, and how even innocent parties can end up facing harassment. It also underscores the importance of safeguarding sensitive data and exercising caution when sharing details, especially across borders.
Image Source: Shin Min Daily News.