A Singaporean woman in her 50s was left devastated after discovering that the man she believed was her boyfriend had deceived her out of more than S$930,000, including money she had set aside for her daughter’s university education.
The 54-year-old woman, who has chosen not to reveal her identity, met 57-year-old Kong Jun Yi Jonathan online in October 2020. Their relationship eventually became serious, with the pair even discussing marriage.
Kong was sentenced to three years and seven months’ jail on Aug. 6, 2026, after being convicted of multiple offences involving deception, theft and forgery.
Man Claimed To Be CEO And Widower
According to Chinese-language media reports, Kong initially presented himself as a successful chief executive of a company.
He also claimed that he was a widower whose wife had died after falling ill, and that he was raising a 10-year-old son.
The reality was very different.
Kong was actually working as a fruit seller, while his wife was still alive.
The woman, who had divorced around 20 years earlier, said Kong was the first man she had dated since her divorce.
Their relationship lasted for more than a year, with Kong staying at her home from Monday to Friday before returning to his own home at weekends.
During their relationship, Kong repeatedly asked her and her sister for money.
He allegedly gave various explanations, including claims that he had acted as a guarantor for loans, that his company required additional funds and that he needed money for hospital treatment.
Even Tuition Money Was Handed Over
The woman said she trusted Kong because he appeared to have money.
At one point, he even showed her his bank account and claimed that the funds inside had been frozen because he had acted as a guarantor.
Believing his explanations, she continued lending him money.
Some of the cash eventually handed to Kong was money that had been reserved for her daughter’s overseas university education.
Her sister also gave him money that had been saved for her child’s wedding.
The scale of the deception only became apparent later.
Charge sheets showed that the woman transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kong within a period of just several months after being deceived.
The situation became even more serious when the woman discovered that jewellery was missing.
Kong had allegedly taken her gold jewellery without permission, claiming that his mother needed the pieces to check their sizing before purchasing the traditional “si dian jin” wedding jewellery.
She repeatedly asked him to return the items but was unable to get them back.
Fake Accident Photo Finally Exposed His Lies
One of the biggest breakthroughs came after Kong sent the woman a photograph which he claimed showed a colleague involved in a car accident.
Something about the photograph did not seem right.
The woman searched for the image online and discovered that it was not genuine.
That was when she realised she had been deceived.
She immediately made a police report.
The woman and her sister subsequently checked their homes and discovered that additional pieces of jewellery had also disappeared.
Investigations found that Kong had stolen 45 pieces of jewellery worth more than S$50,000 and subsequently sold them at pawnshops.
The victim later spent more than S$7,000 on legal fees attempting to recover her money, but said she eventually managed to recover only slightly more than S$2,000.
Daughter’s University Fees Became A Major Struggle
The financial loss had a devastating impact on the woman’s family.
After discovering the scam, she said she struggled to eat and drink properly and had difficulty sleeping for around two months.
She eventually relied on sleeping pills to get through the period.
The woman also revealed that she had contemplated suicide after losing such a significant amount of money.
She said she ultimately held on because of her daughter.
One of the most painful consequences was the impact on her daughter’s education.
Because so much of her savings had disappeared, the woman could no longer afford the tuition fees for her daughter’s overseas studies.
The university fees reportedly amounted to around six figures a year, placing enormous financial pressure on the family.
The woman eventually had to take out a bank loan to ensure her daughter could complete her education.
Her daughter eventually graduated and returned home.
However, the financial crisis also severely strained their relationship.
The woman said her daughter later revealed that she too had experienced suicidal thoughts because of what had happened.
Six Years Later, She Says She Still Cannot Move On
Despite the passage of around six years since the deception began, the woman said the experience continues to affect her.
She told Chinese-language media that she has remained strong for her daughter’s sake, but no longer feels comfortable trusting people in relationships.
The experience also changed the way she deals with others.
She said she has become much more cautious and no longer readily helps people without thinking twice.
Kong was eventually arrested on Jan. 22, 2026.
His various offences involving theft, deception and forgery resulted in total losses exceeding S$930,000, comprising both cash and jewellery.
Despite the enormous losses suffered, the victim reportedly forgave Kong and appealed to the court for leniency during his sentencing.
The case serves as a stark reminder that romance scams are not limited to strangers sending suspicious messages online. A relationship that appears genuine can also be used to establish trust before money, valuables and personal savings are gradually taken.
For victims, the consequences can extend far beyond financial losses, potentially affecting family relationships, education plans and long-term financial security.