Convinced by his explanations, Ms Chee continued the relationship, believing she was talking to a genuine person.
“Looking back, I’m just an average-looking person. Why would someone who looked so good, and was so talented and tip-top, match with me?” she said.
During the next week, Aiden asked her to invest in a sustainability platform, claiming it was by invitation only and low-risk – framing the investment as a way for them to secure a future together.
“He promised me a lot of things. I believed his fairy tale about the future – having kids and pets together.”
The truth emerged only when a bank officer alerted her to the scam after noticing unusual transfers. By then, she had lost over S$40,000 (US$31,153) to the catfisher.
Even while filing a police report, Ms Chee struggled to accept what had happened, holding onto the hope that Aiden was who he claimed to be.
