Last year, one of our admin, Coding Matrix was scammed by his childhood friend. The friend asks Coding Matrix to sign up for a mobile phone contract on behalf of him. When he was asked why he can’t sign the contract himself, he gave excuses of his parent’s name already registered under other phone contract and cannot sign up for more. He also offer Coding Matrix some money in exchange for the 4G network and the new Iphone device given by the contract. Coding Matrix thought it is totally fine, he sign up the contract using his own name at the Telecom store, and gave the Sim Card with 4G network as well as the new phone to his friend.

However, when the phone bill mails to Coding Matrix’s home, as he start asking him to pay the bill, the selfish friend refused to pay the bill. His friend blocked Coding Matrix’s contact number and on social media including Whatsapp to prevent Coding Matrix from contacting him. The bill costs more than a thousand of dollars (Singapore dollar).

MAKING THE POLICE REPORT

Coding Matrix have no choice but made a police report secretly without his parent’s notice, he afraid his parent will scold him if he let them know. Coding Matrix told me when he’s making the police report, the police officer call his reported case a “Stupid Case” when the officer is discussing the matter with his colleague over the phone. Yes, I laughed, I totally agreed with the police officer that this is very “Stupid Case”. Firstly, it is because Coding Matrix is too careless, as he should not trust people so easily. He could have asked someone close to his family like his grandparent or relative to help signing the contract if he really needs the new phone and network, instead of asking his friend for help. Secondly, Coding Matrix does not even know where his friend live and ways to contact his parent. He shouldn’t help him at the first place when he is unclear of where he lives.

“I saw the police officer said my case is a ‘Stupid Case’ when he discuss my problem with his colleague over the phone.”

Coding Matrix

TRACKING DOWN THE CULPRIT

I tried to help Coding Matrix by find out where his friend live and working at, but Coding Matrix only knows his Facebook and Instagram account. When I investigate, Coding Matrix told me his friend’s family have financial problem, which causes him unable to continue his studies and he quit ITE (A school in Singapore) to start working. I strongly believe that it is nonsense, because Singapore provides bursary and financial assistance for students who faces financial difficulties, so they will be able to pay the school fee and continue receiving education. It’s almost impossible to quit school just because of financial problems in Singapore, I predict most likely his friend dislikes the class lesson or the subject which made him decide to quit school. I continue to investigate it further, but I still can’t find where he lives or work at. Instead, I found a few points which prove that he is not poor. I saw a picture of him smoking cigarette on Instagram. Cigarette are not cheap in Singapore, as I told Coding Matrix, but he told me his friend might be purchasing cigarette from unlicensed sales person which sold it cheaply. Next, from the Instagram post, I find that he have tattoos on his leg and he his hair are dyed with bright colors. These are not cheap also, if he’s really facing financial difficulties, he wouldn’t spend his money on such area at all.

Regardless, Coding Matrix now regrets helping him, as it had also gave him many problems afterwards. Few months after the contract had cancelled, the debt collection service company sent Coding Matrix a letter which asks him to pay the contract’s phone bill. Even though the contract is cancelled, the bill still have to be paid, or Coding Matrix will not be able to sign up new contract from that particular Telecom company again in future. He tried to hide it from his parent, but his mother later still found that he was scammed by his friend and scolded him fiercely. Coding Matrix’s mum brings him to the police station and made a new police report. Furthermore, his mum also filed a complaint to the Telecom company.

Besides, he could have avoided these problems if he think twice. Such scamming cases are actually common in Singapore. It’s not the first time where such similar cases happen.

His story had taught us four important points:

1. Not to trust others easily.
2. Think carefully before helping people in complex problem or accepting offer.
3. Don’t be greedy.
4. Be very careful when making friends, Coding Matrix’s story has shown us that he was making friends with the wrong person.