A 49-year-old woman has been arrested in Singapore over her alleged role in promoting an investment scheme linked to the Fun Coffee platform, which authorities said resembles a pyramid selling scheme.
In a media release on Saturday, 8th August, the Singapore Police Force said the woman was arrested on Thursday, 6th August, following investigations into the platform, which is purportedly based in Vietnam. Preliminary investigations indicated that she had actively promoted the scheme and recruited others to join.
Users were required to download the Fun Coffee application and transfer Tether (USDT), a cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar, to digital wallet addresses provided through the app.
“Users can subscribe to any of the investment plans listed within the application. The plans promise unrealistically high returns and offer additional commissions for recruiting others to join the scheme,” said the Singapore Police Force.
“Participants of the investment scheme in Singapore were subsequently unable to withdraw their funds through the ‘Fun Coffee’ application.”
The woman is being investigated for alleged offences under the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act. If charged and convicted, she faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to S$200,000, or both.
Earlier this week, Hong Kong and Macau police arrested 8 people linked to Fun Coffee after receiving more than 220 complaints about the platform. Victims there were reportedly cheated out of close to HK$100 million. The Fun Coffee suddenly went offline on 20th July, prompting the complaints.
Based in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Fun Coffee claims to have more than US$1 billion in assets and a team of over 5,000 people. On its Singapore website, the company describes itself as “a lifestyle brand combining coffee, wellness, and digital innovation into a community experience”.
Under a section titled “Financial Model”, Fun Coffee says its digital platform and app “connect users’ activities and interactions into a unified system that rewards participation and fosters community growth”. It adds that its goal is to create a platform where coffee experiences, lifestyle engagement, and community participation “work together to support the global growth of the Fun Coffee network”.
The website also shows that the company operated a cafe with a coffee-making robot at 202 Jalan Besar. The Straits Times visited the registered address on 7th August and found a coffee vending machine at the entrance. Handwritten instructions were attached to the machine, explaining how customers could scan a QR code to make payments.
A victim in Singapore said she invested around S$400,000 and has been unable to recover any of the money. Fun Coffee entered the Singapore market sometime in 2025.
Police advised the public not to make any further payments or transfers to the scheme, even if approached by individuals claiming to represent Fun Coffee or through requests made via the Fun Coffee application.
The public should also treat payment requests made through a private PayNow QR code, personal mobile number, or overseas account as potential red flags.
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