25-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) Zeng Xianfu Gibson, a former sales executive at a rental company, has been sentenced to three years and seven months’ imprisonment for orchestrating one of the largest rental scams in Singapore. The 29-year-old misused photographs he had taken while working to deceive 68 victims and swindle them out of nearly S$383,000 (US$280,000).
Gibson pleaded guilty to 23 charges of cheating, with an additional 39 charges taken into consideration during the court proceedings.
During his employment at Singapore Housing Company from 2018 to 2020, Gibson’s role involved photographing rental units and arranging viewings for potential clients. However, after leaving the company, he exploited the photos he had taken by posting them on the Airbnb platform, despite lacking the authority and ability to rent out the advertised units.
To make the listings appear legitimate, Gibson provided genuine images of the units and created fake tenancy agreements to deceive the victims into transferring money to him.
The victims targeted by Gibson hailed from various countries, including the United States, France, South Africa, Germany, India, China, Portugal, Israel, Denmark, Switzerland, and Singapore.
Detailed court documents outlined how these individuals were scammed, with deposits ranging from S$7,000 to S$16,635 after responding to Gibson’s fraudulent Airbnb listings in 2022.
Among the victims were international students and locals seeking short-term accommodation. One victim from Israel had arranged for Gibson to pick her up at Changi Airport, but he failed to show up or provide her with a rented place, leaving her without a refund upon arrival.
When the scheduled move-in dates approached, Gibson would use excuses, such as claiming that the outgoing tenant had contracted COVID-19, to delay the victims. As a result, one victim had to book a hotel stay.
Multiple police reports were filed against Gibson, leading to his initial arrest in February 2022. However, he continued his fraudulent activities after being released on station bail on the same day. He was arrested again five months later and charged in court but resumed his scams upon being released on court bail.
In October 2022, his bail was finally revoked, and he has been in remand ever since. Gibson has made partial restitution of approximately S$30,000, leaving S$353,000 unaccounted for.
During the sentencing, the prosecutor sought a minimum of 47 months in jail for Gibson, highlighting the substantial amount he had swindled and the distress caused to the victims. The prosecutor emphasized that the crimes were committed during a period of high competition for rental units, when demand outweighed supply. Many victims were foreigners and locals in need of housing, including international students and individuals waiting to move into their permanent homes.
The prosecutor also noted that Gibson’s exploitation of COVID-19 fears to deceive victims was highly opportunistic, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and anxiety.
Citing Minister of State for Home Affairs Ms. Sun Xueling’s statement in Parliament, the prosecutor highlighted the increasing number of home rental scams facilitated by online platforms, from 192 cases in 2021 to 979 cases in 2022. Furthermore, a police release in March 2023 revealed that at least 305 people had fallen victim to rental scams in early 2023, resulting in a total loss of at least S$1.7 million.
Each charge of cheating carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
