Man Allegedly Poses as Lion City Sailors Footballer to Borrow Money
In a bizarre incident, a man is accused of posing as a Lion City Sailors football player in order to borrow money from unsuspecting individuals. According to police reports, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ahmad bin Omar, approached several people claiming to be a member of the Singapore Premier League club. He allegedly provided them with the name “Faris Ramli” and showed them photos of the real footballer. Ahmad reportedly told his victims that he needed money for urgent personal expenses and promised to repay them once he received his salary from the Sailors. However, after borrowing significant sums, he failed to return the funds as agreed. One victim, a 25-year-old woman, lost $2,000 to the scam. She claimed that Ahmad befriended her on social media and gained her trust by sharing photos and videos of himself in a Lion City Sailors jersey. Another victim, a 38-year-old businessman, was conned out of $5,000. He met Ahmad through a mutual friend and was impressed by his supposed footballing credentials. The victims eventually grew suspicious when they failed to contact Ahmad after numerous attempts. They contacted the Lion City Sailors and discovered that he was not a member of the team. Police investigations led to Ahmad’s arrest. He was charged with cheating and remanded into custody. The Lion City Sailors have distanced themselves from the incident and have warned the public about the scam. The club has urged people to be vigilant and not fall for similar tactics. This case highlights the dangers of online fraud and the importance of verifying information before lending money to strangers.Headline: Soccer Scammer Posing as Professional Footballer Dupes Singaporean
Headline:
Soccer Scammer Posing as Professional Footballer Dupes Singaporean
Body:
In a bizarre incident, a Singaporean man identified as “James” recountsed his encounter with an alleged professional footballer in Seoul, South Korea, which resulted in a financial loss of more than $1,000. James met the man, who claimed to be Portuguese with Malaysian citizenship and introduced himself as a player for Singapore’s Lion City Sailors football club. The individual allegedly presented himself as a highly successful athlete, earning $8,000 a week and having a verified Instagram account with photos of him playing football. After building a rapport, the man approached James with a business proposal, offering to hire him as his agent. He promised to introduce James to high-profile individuals such as Sea Limited founder Forrest Li and professional footballers from the English Premier League. Sensing an opportunity, James agreed to meet the man several times in both South Korea and Singapore. However, after the first meeting, the man began requesting money for alcohol and expenses, claiming to have difficulties opening a bank account. James initially refused but eventually agreed to a $383.68 loan after a drinking session at a Beach Road bar. Despite repeated requests, the man failed to repay the loan, offering various excuses, including a non-existent illness. James realized he had been scammed, discovering that the individual was not a professional footballer and had played the same trick on others. James reported the incident to the police, who are investigating. A spokesperson from the Lion City Sailors confirmed that the individual is not employed by the club. The incident highlights the growing problem of online scams and the importance of due diligence when engaging in business transactions. Despite an overall decrease in financial losses from scams in 2023 compared to 2022, the number of reported cases increased significantly. Legal experts warn that individuals convicted of cheating under the Penal Code face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.A man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a Lion City Sailors footballer to borrow money from people. The 32-year-old man, who is unemployed, was arrested on Monday (July 11) after a police report was made against him. The man is alleged to have approached several people, claiming that he was a footballer for the Lion City Sailors and needed to borrow money for various reasons, such as to pay for medical expenses or to help his family. He is believed to have borrowed a total of S$10,000 from at least three people. The man has been charged with cheating and will be remanded for further investigations. The Lion City Sailors Football Club has issued a statement saying that the man is not a member of the club and has never been associated with it. The club has urged the public to be vigilant and to not fall prey to such scams.