My Contractor Disappeared with $15K - Here's Exactly What I Did Next

Tuesday, 8:47 AM: "Boss phone cannot reach. Deposit already bank in yesterday." Tuesday, 8:48 AM: WhatsApp shows one grey tick. Tuesday, 8:49 AM: His Facebook page deleted. Tuesday, 8:50 AM: $15,000 gone.

But today, I got $12,000 back. Here's the exact playbook for when your contractor runs away with your money.

The Real Story

Ken's Renovation seemed legitimate. HDB-licensed, 8 years in business, 200+ Facebook reviews, proper quotation, even had a Clementi showroom. I paid 50% deposit ($15,000) on Monday. Work supposed to start Wednesday.

Tuesday morning, his foreman called: "Boss cannot contact. Workshop locked." My heart dropped. Called the showroom—number disconnected. Rushed to Clementi—shutters down, notice from landlord for unpaid rent.

Classic signs I missed: Recently changed company name. All reviews from last 3 months. Insisted on bank transfer, not cheque. Pushed for immediate deposit. Showroom was just two weeks old.

My first instinct: panic. Second instinct: cry. Third instinct: Google "contractor run away Singapore what to do." Found horror stories, no solutions.

But I'm an ex-police officer. I know the system. Over the next 3 weeks, I recovered $12,000 through a combination of legal pressure, social media warfare, and strategic negotiation. He's also now facing criminal charges.

Here's exactly how.

What Most People Don't Know

When contractors disappear, most victims do nothing. They assume the money's gone. Wrong. Here's the recovery playbook:

HOUR 1-4: EVIDENCE LOCKDOWN

• Screenshot everything—WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook, website
• Download all voice messages
• Save bank transfer records
• Document showroom/workshop address
• Check ACRA for company details
• Search his name in bankruptcy records

DAY 1: LEGAL ACTIVATION

• File police report (not online—go physically for urgency)
• Specific charge: Criminal breach of trust (Section 405)
• Not civil dispute—he took money without providing service
• Get Investigation Officer (IO) name and number
• File claim with CASE (Consumers Association)
• File report with HDB if he's licensed

DAY 2-3: SOCIAL WARFARE

• Post on ALL renovation Facebook groups
• Include his photo, company name, ACRA number
• Other victims will emerge (strength in numbers)
• Check if others already filing jointly
• Create WhatsApp group for victims

DAY 4-7: THE HUNT

• ACRA search shows his other companies
• Google his phone number—finds other ads
• Search his name on LinkedIn, property sites
• Find his home address through SingPass (if director)
• Check if still operating under different name

WEEK 2: LEGAL PRESSURE

• Lawyer letter to all known addresses ($500)
• Small Claims Tribunal if under $20,000 ($10 filing)
• Magistrate complaint if police "investigating" too slowly
• Contact his other clients (from ACRA info)

WEEK 3: NEGOTIATION

• He'll contact you through "friend" or "lawyer"
• Offer partial payment to drop charges
• Record everything, agree to nothing without legal advice
• Use leverage: criminal charges vs civil settlement

The Bishan Recovery Coalition

Remember the "Bishan Renovation Massacre" of 2023? 47 victims, $890,000 total loss, one contractor. I joined their WhatsApp group to learn their tactics.

They organized like military operation:

• Hired one lawyer for group ($15,000 split 47 ways)
• Created comprehensive evidence database
• Tracked contractor's every movement
• Posted on his new company's reviews
• Attended his mother's void deck daily

Results:

• 31 victims recovered 60-80% of deposits
• Contractor charged criminally
• HDB banned him permanently
• His new company collapsed within weeks
• 8 victims who went solo recovered nothing

The key: Group pressure and persistence. One victim is ignorable. Forty-seven victims at your mother's void deck isn't.

My case: Found 11 other victims within 48 hours. We coordinated everything. Ken knew he couldn't fight all of us. His "lawyer" offered 80% settlement to drop charges. We accepted. Better than nothing.

Your Action Plan

• First call: Police, then lawyer, then CASE. In that order. Speed matters—assets disappear quickly.
• This weekend: Join Singapore renovation Facebook groups NOW, before you need them. Build network before crisis.
• Before contractors arrive: Always pay by cheque, never exceed 30% deposit, verify HDB license personally.
• Red flag to watch: Contractor who's "too busy" to meet at registered address. No office = no accountability.
• Budget hack: Pay extra 2% for credit card. Chargeback protection worth more than any discount.

The Prevention Protocol

After this nightmare, here's how I vet contractors now:

The 7-Point Check:

1. ACRA check: Company age, director names, address
2. HDB license: Call HDB directly, don't trust website
3. Google reviews: Look for reviews older than 6 months
4. Site visit: Must have physical location, not just "meet at your place"
5. Past projects: Ask for 3 recent contacts, actually call them
6. Payment terms: Maximum 30-40-10-10-10 (never 50% upfront)
7. Cheque only: To company name, never personal

The Insurance Policy:

• Renovation insurance: $50 covers up to $20,000 loss
• Credit card payment: Chargeback rights
• Progressive payment: Never pay ahead of work
• Document everything: Photos daily, receipts immediately

The Bottom Line

When contractors disappear with your money, you have 72 hours to act effectively. After that, recovery drops dramatically. Don't be paralyzed by shock—follow the playbook. My $15,000 lesson became $12,000 recovery because I acted fast and fought smart. The system works if you work it aggressively.

Conversation Starters

Has your contractor ever disappeared? What did you do?

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