A Lesson Learnt

I was working late on Friday. I managed to leave the office at only at 8pm. I decided to go to 7-11 store to grab a copy of the Chinese evening paper before calling a cab to head home.
Just as I was walking out of the store, about to take out my handphone to call for a cab when an Indian guy, named Peter, who appeared to be around his 40s approached me. He must have drank a fair bit of beer as his breath reeked of alcohol. He started his story by saying that his ATM card was stuck in the ATM machine. He then said that he needed $30 for cab fare to KK Hospital as his wife was in labour. He said he would contact me and return the money the next day. I was a little apprehensive about giving him the money at first but seeing the beer in his hand & fearing for my safety, I gave to him. I thought that was the end of it. I exchanged my number with him. He also claimed that he worked at a law firm on the floor above my office.
Just then, he claimed that his wife called again and said that he needed $500 for her admission to hospital. As he was standing quite near to me, I felt threatened, so I just gave to him at the nearby Citibank ATM at Shaw House. But just after that, he claimed that his wife said that it may not be enough and asked me to withdraw $500 more. Again I felt threatened, but I can’t run or try to ask for help as he was near me. He went off after the 2nd asking, but not before asking me to remind him to meet him at Serangoon MRT to repay the loan.
After that I called for a cab at Shaw Centre and headed for home. Just as I was having my dinner, he called again, asking for another $150 to be transferred. I was quite surprised already, but maybe because I was too brain drained to think of anything, I just transferred to him.
The next day, I tried to call him many times, but his phone was off. I waited for him at Serangoon MRT at our agreed time but he didn’t show up. That was when I knew that something was amiss. I consulted Andrina, Jas, Alex & Lance about what should be done, before I told my mum.
Mum was furious at first, but still managed to calm herself down to accompany me to the police station. The 2 police officers recording my report was surprised why I didn’t call the police at the first instance, I wanted to tell them that this was my first time caught in such a situation, and with my physical condition, how do I have the energy to fight him when he can slam dunk me?
The police have classified the case as unsolicited debt, which I felt it was not fair to me. The Government is saying that they care for us, just by providing us with Wheelchair Accessible Bus Service and providing more tax reliefs for us. A person in the right frame of mind will never lend money to a stranger, unless he felt threatened.
I will take the necessary steps as advised by the police and my friends this coming week.
Hopefully I can get my money back, if not just treat the money as donation to charity.
The purpose of sharing this story is to create awareness that there is such cases in Singapore. I do not want my friends to be the next victim. Please note that the author does not want “friends” to come asking him for a loan after reading this. Friends who do this are no longer his friends.