Alleged scammers used fake NRIC & company records in bid to secure S$2.9m loan on S’pore man’s Katong house: ST

A Singapore man discovered that scammers had come close to allegedly using his landed home in Katong to secure a S$2.9 million loan without his knowledge.

According to The Straits Times (ST), the alleged scam involved forged identity documents, fake company records and legal paperwork linked to the property.

Police investigations are ongoing, ST reported.

Found out via SLA letter

The victim, 49-year-old freelance violinist Elgar Kwek, reportedly only found out after receiving a letter from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) informing him that a caveat had been lodged against the home he owns with his mother.

A caveat is a legal notice typically filed when someone claims an interest in a property, usually in relation to a potential sale or transaction.

Kwek reportedly told ST he had no intention of selling the property, which he bought in 2008 and fully paid off in 2019.

After contacting the credit company involved, he allegedly learnt that someone had submitted what was supposed to be his NRIC to apply for a multimillion-dollar loan using the house as collateral.

According to ST, the scammers allegedly created and submitted a fake identity profile around Kwek using:

• A forged NRIC.
• A forged notice of assessment claiming he earned S$170,000 in 2025.
• Company records linking him to businesses he said he had no connection to.

The forged NRIC reportedly used Kwek’s former address, but featured a photo of a different man, a different Chinese name and date of birth.

Investigations later allegedly found that law firms had also been engaged to lodge a caveat tied to the property and apply for a replacement deed for the house from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

Suspicious visitor to his house

One unusual detail in the case involved a “photo shoot” booking at Kwek’s home on Apr. 1.

Kwek rents out his Katong property for filming and photography sessions, ST reported.

While staying home to supervise the shoot, Kwek’s partner reportedly noticed something odd during a photo shoot at their Katong home on Apr. 1.

The man who rented the house had introduced a woman as the “producer” overseeing the shoot.

But she was later seen moving around the property alone, taking measurements and writing notes.

When questioned, she allegedly said she was not a producer, but a "property valuer" who had been hired to assess the house.

The couple later suspected the booking may have been linked to the alleged loan scam involving the property.

ST contacted the man who had rented the place, and he confirmed he rented Kwek's house for a photo shoot, but declined to share more details, citing ongoing investigations.

Another alleged victim affected

ST also reported that another alleged victim, identified as “Alice”, had her identity used in a similar manner and was associated with the same two companies mentioned in Kwek’s case.

The scammers had allegedly tried to secure a loan worth more than S$2 million from a foreign bank.

The forged NRIC linked to her case allegedly used her photo, but listed Kwek’s mother’s name and address.

The two victims reportedly did not know each other.