Denpasar (Baliwananews.com) — A Singaporean man in his 30s stands to lose approximately S$157,000 (around Rp2.2 billion) out of the total funds he invested in a padel sports equipment production business based in Bali, Indonesia.
Over seven months, from February to August 2026, the victim made 84 bank transfers totaling S$368,000 (roughly Rp5 billion) to the corporate account of an Indonesian woman he met in Batam in February 2026. The woman went by the name “Mariie” and is alleged to have operated under a false identity.
The victim, who regularly visits Indonesia and enjoys playing padel, was introduced to the woman by a friend in Batam. She proposed a business partnership: the victim would cover 90% of production costs and was entitled to 90% of sales profits.
Initially, several small production batches went smoothly and the victim received returns, building trust. However, starting in June 2026, production slowed down, and several large orders appeared suspicious. The moment he realized he had been scammed was when a Pilates studio in Bali — supposedly having ordered 300 padel racket covers — confirmed they had never placed any such order at all.
According to the victim’s legal representative, Edo, out of a total of 33 orders, 25 production batches were never delivered, despite promises that these would generate S$394,000 in profit. The victim has received approximately S$211,000 back, leaving a potential net loss of S$157,000.
On September 19, 2026, the victim filed police reports in both Singapore and Indonesia. The Singapore Police Force confirmed receipt of the report and stated that investigations are underway. Meanwhile, the woman alleged to have orchestrated the scam is reportedly still operating and has yet to be questioned as of press time.
According to Edo, this case serves as an important reminder for investors and businesspeople: always have a written agreement legally drawn up and notarized, verify a business’s legal standing and your business partner’s identity, conduct proper due diligence before investing capital, and — most importantly — never transfer funds to a personal bank account without complete supporting documentation.
“If a business agreement isn’t in writing, it isn’t an agreement at all. Always protect your investments with proper legal documentation,” Edo concluded. (hd)
