However, after two years of working together, the person in charge requested over S$5,000 upfront as a package fee, claiming it was for developing an application.

Due to their previously stable partnership, she and her manager did not suspect anything and paid in advance.

Later, the same person borrowed another S$3,000 from her manager, claiming it was needed to cover his father’s funeral expenses.

When Aw found out, she reportedly stepped in and covered the loan for her manager.

However, the individual soon became unreachable, disappearing with both the company’s prepaid delivery fees and the loaned funds.

It was only when a batch of completed dessert orders failed to be delivered and he could not be contacted that Jeanette reached out directly to the delivery drivers.

She was then informed that the workers had not been paid and had even assumed that it was her side that had failed to make payment.

“Later, other F&B operators even emailed me asking if I could reach him. That’s when I realised he had probably been using my name to solicit business,” she recalled.

The incident was eventually reported to the police and the matter was brought to a close, but the experience has since made her much more cautious in running her business.

This story was originally published in 8Days.

For more 8Days stories, visit https://www.8days.sg/