A 43-year-old married Singaporean man has shared how he accumulated S$60,000 in debt after borrowing money from banks and licensed moneylenders to support a masseuse he had fallen for, only for her to eventually leave Singapore.
According to Shin Min Daily News, The man, identified only as Deng, said he first met the 44-year-old masseuse, surnamed Li, at a massage parlour in Toa Payoh on Dec. 27, 2025.
According to him, he became a regular customer and the pair gradually developed a close relationship.
“She would always chat with me, ask about my life and seek my help whenever she encountered problems. Eventually, we started calling each other brother and sister,” he said.
The pair officially entered a relationship at the end of February 2026.
Claimed She Was Struggling With Massive Debt
Deng said that in March, he noticed Li becoming increasingly distressed.
When he asked what was wrong, she allegedly told him she was facing severe financial difficulties after borrowing heavily from relatives and friends to renovate a newly purchased home in China.
She also claimed that creditors were harassing her family members and demanding repayment.
Feeling sympathetic, Deng decided to help.
He initially transferred S$5,017 to Li’s mother through a remittance company before making several more transfers directly into Li’s bank account.
Over five to six transactions, he claimed to have given her at least S$40,000.
Spent Another S$20,000 On Gifts And Her Work
Besides lending her money, Deng said he spent an additional S$20,000 on various expenses.
These included helping her achieve sales targets at her workplace and buying her a new iPhone.
Since his wife controlled his salary, Deng said he had limited access to cash and resorted to taking loans from banks and licensed moneylenders.
“In just half a year, I ended up with about S$60,000 worth of debt,” he said.
Asked For S$20,000 Back After They Broke Up
The relationship eventually deteriorated and Deng decided to ask for some of his money back.
He said he only requested S$20,000 instead of the full amount because he did not want to pressure her too much.
Although she initially agreed, she later allegedly changed her mind.
When he returned to her workplace looking for her, he discovered she was no longer there.
According to Deng, Li previously worked at a massage parlour in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh before relocating to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 after a police raid linked to reports of illicit activities.
He now believes she has returned to her home country.
A former colleague reportedly confirmed that Li had already left Singapore and could no longer be contacted.
Marriage Had Already Broken Down
Deng revealed that he and his wife have long been estranged despite still being legally married.
He said the couple no longer spoke to each other and slept in separate rooms while living under the same roof.
As a result, he became emotionally attached to the masseuse.
He also claimed he had previously travelled to China with her to help her end a relationship with her former boyfriend and meet her parents.
“She told me it was the first time she had brought a boyfriend home to meet her parents,” he said.
Paid S$600 For Her To Rest Instead Of Working
Deng also shared that he once paid S$600 to book five hours of her massage services on the eve of Chinese New Year.
He said she had been suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, and he wanted her to take time off to recover instead of working.
The booking reportedly cost S$50 per hour, plus a S$70 hourly tip.
He later brought her to a hotel so she could rest.
Deng said he decided to share his experience publicly to warn others.
“This time, I really paid a heavy price to learn a lesson,” he said.