To pay for food deliveries and rental cars, teen girl and boyfriend cheated men by pretending to offer sexual services
SINGAPORE — Wanting to earn some extra money to pay for food delivery orders and rent cars, a 17-year-old girl conspired with her then-boyfriend to pretend to offer sexual services in exchange for cash.
The teenager, who cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act, pleaded guilty on Friday (Dec 22) to engaging in a criminal conspiracy to cheat.
Another charge under the Computer Misuse Act will be taken into consideration when she returns to court for sentencing on Jan 24, pending the completion of a report on whether she is suitable for probation as a sentencing option.
Probation is usually offered to young offenders between 16 and 21 years old. It does not result in a recorded criminal conviction, and offenders will be able to continue with their education or employment while serving their sentence.
The court heard that the teenager's ex-boyfriend had earlier pleaded guilty to a similar charge and is also awaiting the results of a probation suitability report.
The two were in a romantic relationship from March to August last year.
THE SCAM
Sometime in May last year, the pair came up with the idea to earn "fast cash" by engaging in a scam where the girl would falsely represent that she offered sexual services in exchange for money.
This was so that they could earn money to make food orders on delivery applications and to rent cars.
The teenager obtained foreign mobile numbers using an app called TextNow and used the numbers to create new Telegram accounts.
She then found photos of girls online to use as the profile photos of her new accounts, without their permission.
She also used a variety of fake names on these accounts and joined various Telegram public chat groups such as Telegram Hitch, which facilitates ride-sharing of private-hire cars, and chat groups where sexual services were offered.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jason Chua said that after she introduced herself in these groups, the teenager would receive many private messages from those who were interested in getting to know her.
She would then tell them that she was offering sexual services in exchange for money even though she had no intention of providing such services.
She would also send voice notes of herself speaking to some of these chats to assure the interested person that she was a real female.
An arrangement would then be made to meet with these people to provide a sexual service for a fixed price but they would be required to pay a deposit of between S$10 and S$50 before they met.
These payments were to be made to her then-boyfriend's bank account through e-payment channel PayNow.
After the deposit was paid, the teenager would instruct the payers to go to a meeting place.
However, when they arrived, she would tell them that she was not comfortable to meet and ask for more money.
She would then stop communication with them and block them on Telegram.
Her then-boyfriend had also done the same and communicated with scam victims using a Telegram account under the name "Amanda", DPP Chua said.
These accounts were active from May last year to their break-up in August.
The duo's actions were eventually found out after a police report was made by one of the victims on Oct 7.
The prosecution stated that due to the number of unknown victims, the total amount cheated could not be determined.
'REHABILITATION IS APPROPRIATE'
During mitigation, Mr David Nayar, who represented the teenager, supported the call for a probation suitability report, saying that rehabilitation is the appropriate sentence for his client, who was just 16 at the time of the offence.
Before delivering his decision to grant the call for a probation suitability report, District Judge Eddy Tham told the teenager: "I hope you realised how serious your actions were and the trouble you are in. Even though you were influenced by someone older, at 16, I expect you to know what is right and what is wrong."
Anyone guilty of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to cheat could be jailed for up to three years or fined, or both.
