A 41-year-old man, Goh Chun Kiat, was convicted on 24 September 2019 and sentenced to 11 years and 6 months’ imprisonment for carrying out a series of timeshare recovery scams as well as drugs and immigration offences.
Between 2014 and 2017, Goh Chun Kiat cheated 27 owners of timeshare memberships by deceiving them that he or his agents would help them recover monies from the termination of their timeshare memberships. These timeshare owners were thereby deceived into paying various fees and charges to Goh Chun Kiat and his agents. However, the timeshare membership owners did not recover any monies from the termination of their timeshare memberships.
Goh Chun Kiat had absconded while he was under investigation in 2017. With assistance from the Royal Malaysian Police, he was brought back to Singapore to face his charges.
Goh Chun Kiat pleaded guilty to 15 counts of cheating, one count of consumption of a specified drug, one count of offence under the Immigration Act and two counts of other offences. Another 123 counts of offences which include cheating, using forged documents, and possessing counterfeit seals and stamps to commit forgery, were taken into consideration for the purpose of sentencing.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to be vigilant when receiving unsolicited calls from companies or persons purporting to help them recover monies from their timeshare memberships. Members of the public should adopt the following precautions:
- Be wary when an unknown person calls you regarding your timeshare membership;
- Refrain from providing any personal information or information on your timeshare membership to the caller;
- Conduct background checks on the company’s track record before engaging its services;
- Check with your timeshare developer if the caller was authorised by the timeshare developer to deal with your timeshare membership;
- Request for a copy of the documentation on their proposals, representations, contracts and agreements. Be wary if the company is reluctant to provide you with such documentation; and
- Exercise caution especially if you are asked to make upfront payments.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
24 September 2019 @ 6:40 PM