A wave of fraudulent bulk orders has swept across Singapore’s food and beverage sector, with scammers impersonating Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to dupe small businesses into preparing large quantities of food that are never collected.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed on 14 Sep 2025 that it has identified seven such cases and filed police reports, stating that investigations found “no evidence that these individuals are affiliated with the SAF”.
Latest Victims Surface
Two additional eateries fell victim to the scam in recent days. Nasi lemak restaurant Sedap! in Novena prepared 150 packets of nasi lemak after receiving a call from someone identified as “Luke” who claimed the order was needed on an “urgent basis” for an army camp.
Yi Jia Bakery along Thomson Road suffered a $1,500 loss when a man named “Gordon” ordered pastries for 150 people, claiming he was from Bedok Camp. The scammer later claimed his phone was “broken” and contacted the bakery from a different number.
Pattern Emerges Across Multiple Businesses
Breaditation Bakery on Desker Road became one of the most publicized victims when it lost $2,000 to a scammer named “Gordon” who claimed to be SAF personnel from Bedok Camp. The bakery offered mystery boxes of assorted pastries and buns for $30 each to recover losses, selling out all boxes by 8:30pm on the same day.
Kiki Florist suffered losses exceeding $1,000 after preparing 150 small bouquets and four extra-large ones within 48 hours. The scammer claimed it was a “corporate order from the government” and identified himself as being from Bedok Army Camp.
Muhammad Shazain Faiha Muslim Food Paradise, a hawker stall in Tiong Bahru Market, prepared 150 packets of chicken and mutton briyani with bottles of mineral water after receiving an order from someone claiming to be from the SAF.
Scammers’ Modus Operandi Revealed
The fraudsters typically request orders for exactly 150 people or items, creating a sense of urgency by claiming the food is needed for military personnel. They avoid paying deposits by citing procedural restrictions or claiming that army staff have left for the day.
In Sedap!’s case, “Luke” explained that advance payment was not possible as the shop was a “first time supplier” and documentation was needed for approval. The explanation appeared reasonable to the business owners at the time.
When Yi Jia Bakery’s owner Low pressed for payment, the scammer claimed army staff had already left for the day and offered to transfer money the next morning. A supposed colleague later called to check on the order before most messages in their conversation were mysteriously deleted.
Community Response and Recovery Efforts
Several affected businesses turned to social media to minimize losses. Breaditation Bakery’s Instagram post about the scam garnered support from over 1,000 followers, helping them sell remaining stock.
Muhammad Shazain Faiha Muslim Food Paradise appealed to Facebook followers, successfully selling the discounted briyani to customers who helped the hawker recover part of the loss. Yi Jia Bakery donated most of its unsold food to food bank Food from the Heart.
Well, at least the businesses gain some publicity from these losses.
Authority Response and Investigation
MINDEF emphasized that “the SAF takes a serious view of this” and urged “the public, including businesses, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police”.
The ministry’s Facebook post on 14 Sep 2025 served as an official warning about the fraudulent activities, confirming that none of the individuals placing these orders have any connection to the military.
Singapore police are investigating the cases as part of a broader pattern of bulk order fraud that has cost victims in the country a total of $126.5 million across various scam types.
The incidents occurred between 8 Sep and 13 Sep 2025, affecting businesses across different areas of Singapore including Novena, Thomson Road, Desker Road, and Tiong Bahru Market.
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