A 32-year-old Singaporean man has claimed he lost approximately S$885 after meeting a woman he had been chatting with online for about a month.
According to reports, the man, identified only as Chen, matched with a woman named “Nam” on the dating app Tinder before arranging to meet in Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia.
According to Shin Min Daily News, The woman reportedly told Chen that she worked in public relations, lived in JB, and was originally from Chiang Mai, Thailand. After weeks of online conversations, the pair decided to meet in person for dinner at a Thai restaurant in the Malaysian city.
Date Appeared To Go Smoothly
Chen told local media that the date initially went well, with the pair spending several hours together chatting and getting to know each other.
At one point during the evening, the woman reportedly borrowed Chen’s mobile phone to search for locations they could visit for a future date.
The outing continued until around 1am, with Chen footing the bill for the meal.
According to reports, the woman later invited him to continue the evening at her residence. However, events allegedly took an unexpected turn when Chen stopped at a convenience store to purchase snacks.
While he was inside the shop, the woman reportedly vanished without explanation.
Woman Allegedly Blocked Him Afterwards
After discovering that the woman had left, Chen attempted to contact her but found that she had allegedly blocked him on communication platforms.
The sudden disappearance raised suspicions, prompting him to review his financial accounts shortly afterwards.
It was during this check that he allegedly discovered a transfer of RM2,800, equivalent to around S$885, from his Touch ‘n Go eWallet account.
The transaction was reportedly unauthorised, leading Chen to suspect that the money may have been transferred while the woman had access to his phone earlier in the evening.
Police Report Lodged In Malaysia
Following the discovery, Chen reportedly lodged a police report with Malaysian authorities.
As of the time of reporting, it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made or whether the funds can be recovered.
The incident serves as a reminder for individuals meeting online acquaintances for the first time to remain cautious when sharing personal information or allowing others access to their mobile devices, particularly where banking apps, e-wallets, and digital payment services are involved.
Online Reactions Highlight Mobile Security Concerns
The case has sparked discussion online, with many netizens questioning why someone would hand over an unlocked phone containing access to financial applications.
Cybersecurity experts have long advised users to enable additional layers of protection, such as biometric authentication, separate app locks for banking and e-wallet applications, and transaction notifications that alert users immediately when funds are transferred.
With cashless payments becoming increasingly common across Singapore and Malaysia, incidents involving e-wallets and digital banking accounts have also highlighted the importance of safeguarding mobile devices, especially when meeting strangers or travelling overseas.
Authorities generally advise members of the public to avoid sharing passwords, PINs, one-time passwords (OTPs), or unlocked devices with individuals they do not know well.