Repeat Fraudster Jailed for Rolex Scams in Singapore

In a significant ruling, a Singapore court has imposed an 18-month and 49-day jail sentence on Foo Siang Wee, a repeat offender who pleaded guilty to various fraud charges, including cheating, criminal breach of trust, and illicit sales of his Singpass access. This case has garnered attention due to Foo's ongoing involvement in multiple financial scams over recent years.

The 34-year-old was convicted for orchestrating fake Rolex watch scams on online marketplaces. Court hearings revealed that he had previously committed a related fraud in 2021 and repeated similar tactics in 2025 by listing a Rolex Submariner “Half Gold” watch for sale on Carousell.

Foo managed to dupe several buyers into transferring large sums as advance payments. In one incident, a victim was tricked into sending S$4,000, while another lost S$8,000, believing the timepiece to be genuine. Foo kept them in the dark with a series of false excuses about needing to confirm the payments before releasing the watch.

Once he received the funds, Foo abruptly stopped all communication and vanished. Authorities later determined that he had used the proceeds for gambling before being arrested in March 2025. Prosecutors addressed the court with evidence of Foo’s criminal activities dating back to 2016.

In addition to the Rolex scams, he was accused of embezzling over S$29,000 while serving as a manager at Koufu’s food court in Toa Payoh between January and February 2025. Court records indicate that after being confronted, Foo initially expressed remorse and promised to return the money but subsequently disappeared and ceased contact.

The inquiry also uncovered that Foo sold access to his Singpass account to an unidentified buyer via Telegram for a proposed payment of several hundred dollars, though he claimed he never received it. This act raised alarms regarding the misuse of Singapore's digital identity system, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nivethaa Ravintharan noted the defendant's long history of scams, including bogus hotel package deals at Marina Bay Sands and prior Rolex frauds targeting unsuspecting buyers online.

Though the court contemplated compensation for the victims, it ultimately decided against it after it was revealed that Foo was unemployed and could not afford to reimburse the losses. Singapore officials continue to issue warnings about online scams, identity misuse, and fraudulent schemes aimed at buyers through deceptive listings.

Consumers are urged to exercise caution, especially when dealing with high-value items sold at seemingly attractive prices in online marketplaces. This case underscores the pressing issues surrounding recurring online fraud and financial scams in Singapore.