A 30-year-old finance professional thought she’d found her dream home when she purchased a five-room resale HDB flat in Sembawang for $515,000 last May.
Instead, she bought herself a year-long nightmare of weekly threatening letters from loan sharks hunting the previous owner.
The woman, identified only as Ms Wu (name transliterated from Mandarin), now receives at least one debt collection letter every week. The harassment continued even during her pregnancy, forcing her to file two separate police reports.
Discovery Through a Neighbour’s Warning
Ms Wu initially ignored the occasional letters addressed to the previous owner after moving in. The situation changed dramatically in October 2024 when a neighbour knocked on her door holding a loan shark letter with her address.
“Although I didn’t owe the money, I still felt ashamed and worried my neighbours would think I was in debt,” Ms Wu told Shin Min Daily News.
She immediately filed her first police report. Officers advised her to install surveillance cameras and promised increased patrols in the area. Ms Wu began opening every suspicious letter that arrived.
The letters revealed the previous owner faced serious financial troubles. Debt collection notices came from loan sharks, pawn shops, and legitimate lending companies.
Threatening Images and Failed Negotiations
The loan shark letters contain disturbing photographs of burned houses, vandalized cars, and paint splashing. Some include images of bloody hands and car accidents alongside debt collection messages.
Ms Wu reached her breaking point in March 2025. She sent an anonymous text message to the loan sharks, begging them to stop sending letters to her address. The strategy backfired completely.
The threatening letters continued arriving like clockwork every week. By 25 May 2025, Ms Wu had enough and filed her second police report.
“I really can’t take it anymore. I went to the police station again the day before yesterday,” she said.
Previous Owner’s Indifference and Future Concerns
Ms Wu learned the previous owner sold the flat due to divorce proceedings and potential repossession by authorities. Neither the seller nor the agent mentioned any debt problems during viewings or transactions.
When Ms Wu contacted the previous owner seeking help, she received only a casual apology. No concrete action followed.
“It’s clearly her debt, but I keep getting harassment letters while she stays out of trouble. I recently scolded her again, but she just ignored me,” Ms Wu explained.
Despite the ongoing harassment, Ms Wu refuses to move. She’s invested in renovations and considers this her first home purchase. Her main concern centers on how the situation might affect future resale value.
Ms Wu urges potential buyers to thoroughly investigate property backgrounds before purchase. She also suggests authorities add extra verification steps during transaction approvals to prevent others from buying “loan shark houses.”
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