MarketingNews

Man Cons Two Sisters Out Of $470,000 Pretending To Be Successful Interior Designer

Con

Married dock worker Chu Tak-fai has been found guilty of conning his online date and her sister out of HK$3.67m.

Tak-fai met Sin Lai-shan on dating platform Badoo in March 2016, and told her that he was a successful interior designer named Thomas Fung who worked in Harbour City in Hong Kong.

He told Lai-shan that “his monthly bonuses were about HK$200,000 to HK$300,000”, she explained.

Tak-fai later told Lai-shan that he needed money in order to replace stolen company funds and also persuaded her to invest in the business – he said an investment would make her a huge amount of money in just a few months.

She also provided Tak-fai with a cash sum of HK$85,000, after he allegedly lost his wallet and bank account details.

Lai-shan is said to have asked her sister for help to provide him with some of the funds, and reports have said that the conman also persuaded Lai-shan’s sister to invest in his company.

The pair lost a combined total of HK$3.67m (around $470,000) and Tak-fai is said to have spent the money on repaying personal loans, a new Mercedes, Rolex watches, designer bags and expensive jewellery.

Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said in court that both women were “simple and unworldly” and said: “It was not surprising that they fell for his claims.”

Tak-fai, who admitted to the crimes against Lai-shan on his arrest, has now been found guilty of five counts of fraud.

Emma Woodley

Emma is a reporter at Global Dating Insights. Originally from Surrey, she has studied Communication and Media at Bournemouth University and The University of Central Florida. She enjoys socialising with friends, exploring new places and can often be found with her nose in a book.

Global Dating Insights is part of the Industry Insights Group. Registered in the UK. Company No: 14395769