Ex-GF insisted on a $60k destination wedding in Bali, made me collect all cash red packets/gifts into her personal account, then ghosted me 3 weeks later with the cash.
I am writing this from a police station after filing a official report for fraud, though the police officer told me this might be classified as a “civil debt dispute”. I am devastated and completely ruined financially.
I (30M) met “Chloe” (28F) two years ago. From day one, she was obsessed with social media aesthetic. When we got engaged, she flatly refused to hold a traditional Singapore hotel banquet.
She insisted on a Destination Wedding at a luxury cliffside villa in Uluwatu, Bali.
I told her my budget was tight ($20k max). She threw a massive tantrum, crying that “a girl only marries once” and promised that her rich relatives and friends would give huge cash angbaos (red packets) that would easily cover the costs.
I gave in. I wiped out my savings and took a $30k personal bank loan to pay for the $60k Bali villa, photographer, flowers, and guest accommodation.
During the wedding in Bali, we set up a “Cash Gift Box” and a PayNow QR code for guests to transfer wedding angbaos. To “make things convenient”, Chloe set her OWN personal POSB bank account as the QR code destination. I trusted my bride, so I didn’t object.
We collected an estimated $45,000 in cash angbaos and PayNow transfers from our 80 guests.
After the wedding, we flew back to Singapore. We hadn’t registered our ROM in Singapore yet because our solemnization appointment was scheduled for next month.
Three weeks ago, Chloe said she needed to fly to Bangkok for a “4-day girls’ shopping trip” before our actual honeymoon.
She flew off.
On Day 2 of her trip, all her social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) vanished or blocked me. Her WhatsApp went to single tick. Her phone number was disconnected.
I panicked. I called her mother. Her mother coldly said: “Chloe realized you two are not compatible. Don’t look for her anymore. The marriage in Bali wasn’t legally registered in SG anyway.”
I rushed to our rented apartment. All her branded clothes, bags, jewelry, and personal items were completely cleared out.
She took the $45,000 wedding angbao money, abandoned me with a $30k bank loan, and completely vanished. I found out later through a mutual friend that she flew to UK with her ex-boyfriend!
She literally used me to host a fake $60k fairytale Bali wedding for her Instagram content, looted all our guests’ angbao money, and ran away with another guy!
Since our ROM wasn’t officially completed in Singapore, lawyers tell me Family Court divorce laws don’t apply. I have to sue her in Civil Court for Fraud/Conversion, but I don’t even know her current overseas address. Has anyone successfully tracked down or sued a scammer ex-partner in this scenario?