Helper borrowing money from unlicensed money lenders
Recently I received WhatsApp pics from a stranger (non local number) saying my helper borrowed money. He had pics of her on video call, work permit, a fkng picture of my front gate (she took it herself).
She borrowed a few hundreds from him and by the time he was coming to me, it was already due and now she owes him double the amount.
Upon questioning her she admitted to it and said yes she borrowed another amount from another lender and we quickly cleared it for her. She profusely promised that’s it and she doesn’t have any outstanding loans.
My husband is now very very concerned about our children’s well being since these people have our address. I assured him I doubt they will harm us for a few hundreds.
I have read similar stories but never expected this to happen to me. She has been with us for almost 2 years and we were going to extend her contract.
A few months back she asked to borrow a huge sum from us to buy a piece of land in her home town. But after a few weeks she said she will be forgoing her deposit for the land and won’t be buying anymore.
She asks for advance a few times but they are only a few days in advance. We even warned her never ever to take up loans from money lenders and she even gave us a reaction as though it was the most absurd thing she has ever heard. This is just shocking and disappointing.
Any advice for me? Should we be concerned abt this?
Netizens’ comments
- You should not have cleared the loans for her. Just enabling her and the loansharks. The loansharks are not going to do anything to you or your family for such small amounts. This is Singapore after all. They were just preying on your fears and they won.
Would have sent helper back and make police report on loanshark. - This is a red flag that a few months back, she was already in financial trouble and was lying to you to fix it.
Fire her immediately (i.e. buy the plane ticket to send her back), take leave if needed to care for the children while arranging to hire another. This really sucks, sorry you have to go through this. - happened to my family too and it was rather bad for a few weeks. weird people turning up at our doorstep, the lenders even harassed us by ordering food delivery using cash in delivery option. luckily we made a police report early so got police to handle the delivery situation. police even gave permission to us to install doorstep cctv. sent helper home within 2 months after that bc when u can’t trust someone, them living in your house is just a ticking time bomb. (also helper was rly bad at her job aka cleaning and cooking so…. lol)
was messed up bc we also gave her advances regularly…
edit to add: when we report police advise us not to clear our helper’s loans!! bc it encourages these lenders