SINGAPORE — A polytechnic student who posed as women on an online classifieds website to cheat his victims was given probation on Monday (Feb 25).

Lee Chao Hunt, 19, admitted last month to five charges of cheating, with another 12 counts of similar offences taken into consideration during sentencing. 

In total, Lee fleeced 16 victims of S$3,200. He has made full restitution.

Lee began his crime spree sometime in December 2016, when he came across an advisory on scams on online classified network Locanto.

He created two fake accounts and put up listings with titles such as “Finding for paid fwb (friends with benefits) — 19”.

The number at the end of the listings referred to the ages of the two fictitious women.

Lee promised his victims that the “women” would meet them to have sex, on the condition that they transfer S$200 to his bank account.

But once he received the money, he would ignore subsequent messages or not show up for meetings.

He also muted and deleted the conversations he had with his victims.

The court was told that he spent the money on cigarettes, alcohol and clothes, and patronised night clubs every weekend.

He came up with the scam because he needed the money to sustain this lifestyle.

For his offences, Lee could have been jailed up to three years and/or fined.