‘At least S$90–100k lost in total’: Multiple alleged scam victims speak out against Singapore fitness influencer A Singapore fitness influencer and trainer, Zack Abdullah, 34, is facing a wave of allegations online, with multiple individuals claiming they lost money, received incomplete services, or encountered questionable practices. The claims surfaced on Tuesday (17 March), after an Instagram fitness influencer known as Feline Meows shared screenshots of messages from several alleged victims. On the same day, Singapore gym 24/7 FITNESS suspended “current and future” collaborations with Abdullah. Fitness influencer compiles claims from multiple alleged victims In the Instagram post, Feline Meows, also a fitness influencer and trainer, said she was sharing the accounts to raise awareness. Titled “Beware of Zack Abdullah”, she wrote that “a total of six victims involved” in such scams have reached out to her. Source: @felinemeows on Instagram She added that she aimed to highlight the “possibilities of having these incidents repeat” and urged others with similar experiences to come forward. The post included multiple screenshots detailing different alleged encounters. Allegations of incomplete PT services & financial losses Several individuals claimed they had paid large sums for personal training (PT) packages but did not receive the full number of sessions. One alleged that clients were charged upfront for dozens of sessions, but only a few were delivered before communication broke down. Another individual said they were manipulated by Zack Abdullah during their teenage years.   They claimed to have invested in a gym with him and told Feline it was an expensive lesson learnt. Source: @felinemeows on Instagram A separate account claimed to have paid more than S$8,000 for PT sessions, only to face repeated cancellations and last-minute changes. “Within less than two months, sessions kept getting cancelled,” the individual said, adding that there were occasions when the trainer arrived late or not at all. Source: @felinemeows on Instagram Claims of poor professionalism & inconsistent conduct Across several accounts, alleged victims described similar patterns of behaviour, including lateness, rescheduling, and inconsistent communication. One individual said sessions were sometimes delayed even after they had already arrived at the gym, while others claimed they were asked to begin training on their own. Some also alleged that the image presented on social media did not reflect the actual experience. Source: @felinemeows on Instagram “What you see on social media and what actually happens can be very different,” one person said. Allegations involving supplements & training practices Some claims of Abdullah’s behaviour extended beyond PT sessions to include supplements and training methods. One individual alleged they were sold supplements and performance-related substances without sufficient explanation or proper labelling. Source: @felinemeows on Instagram Another allegation stated that certain products were repackaged before being sold. These claims have not been independently verified. Gym suspends collaboration with influencer On 17 March, 24/7 FITNESS Singapore released a statement addressing the situation. Source: @247fitness_sg on Instagram The gym said in the statement that they were “aware of the recent discussions circulating on social media involving Mr Nor Zainuddin Bin Abdullah (@zackxabdullah) and the concerns raised regarding his alleged inappropriate behaviour.” They added: “In view of the recent developments, 24/7 FITNESS Singapore has decided to immediately suspend and discontinue all current and future collaborations with Mr Zai Abdullah until further notice.” The organisation stated that its priority remains “the well-being and trust of our members and the wider community”. Influencer responds, says not everything online is true In response, Abdullah posted a statement on Instagram on the same day. Source: @zackxabdullah on Instagram He acknowledged having a past but disputed the accuracy of the claims circulating online. “Have I made mistakes?” Definitely. A lot but not everything on social media is true.” He went on to mention how there are “always two sides to every coin”. Woman says alleged victims include people she knows Aklili Zakaria, 35, who has been reposting the allegations and encouraging others to share their experiences, told MS News she is connected to some of the individuals involved. Source: @aklilizakaria on Instagram She said her best friend had previously been in a relationship with the influencer, and that another alleged victim was someone she knew personally. While she did not lose money herself, she claimed: “The girls I know did. At least S$90-100K was lost in total, could be more.” She added that evidence is still being compiled. Ms Aklili also shared her view on why people may have trusted him, suggesting that both personal relationships and his fitness image played a role. “He promises the girls love, future, a relationship, marriage with them,” she told MS News. “As for the clients, [they probably trusted him] because he looked ripped.” She also said some individuals may be hesitant to speak publicly. “The girls are just so scared to voice out… and I also believe they feel embarrassed for being led on for so long.” Source: @aklilizakaria on Instagram MS News has reached out to Zack Abdullah, Feline Meows and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for more information.

Singaporean man deported from Thailand after absconding on bail, also charged for harbouring 10 women for prostitution A 40-year-old Singaporean man has been charged with harbouring 10 women for prostitution purposes in Singapore, and absconding to Thailand while on court bail. Philip Ong Zhihe is accused of harbouring 10 women from April to Oct 2024 for the purposes of prostitution. In a news release on Tuesday (17 March), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said Ong was located in Thailand’s Chonburi province, through investigations from the Criminal Investigation Department and collaboration with the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Source: Singapore Police Force It was suspected that Ong had harboured the 10 women in Geylang and Minbu Road in Balestier, The Straits Times (ST) reported. A gag order is in place to protect the women’s identities. Absconded despite bail conditions Ong was among 17 individuals arrested on 21 Oct 2024 during island-wide operations targeting vice and illegal drug activities. He was subsequently charged under the Women’s Charter 1961 and released on court bail, with his passport impounded. However, he failed to attend a court mention on 12 Dec 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued against him. Investigations revealed that Ong had left Singapore through illegal means, the police said. Arrested in Thailand after joint operation Ong was arrested by the RTP in Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province on 24 Feb.   Police said that he was suspected of continuing vice activities remotely in Singapore, while in Thailand. Source: Singapore Police Force Ong will be charged in court on 25 March, ST said. He is set to face further charges under the Women’s Charter 1961 and the Criminal Procedure Code 2010. Those who knowingly live wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person can be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to S$100,000. Individuals found guilty of illegal departure can be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$2,000, or both. Those who abscond or break the conditions of bail can face a fine, a jail term not exceeding three years, or both. Source: Singapore Police Force Police ‘will spare no effort’ to tackle transnational crime In the SPF news release, Director CID (covering), Senior Assistant Commissioner Yeo Yee Chuan said the case underscores how vice syndicates are increasingly operating across national borders. “The SPF will continue to work closely with our foreign law enforcement partners to combat transnational crimes and will spare no effort to bring criminals to justice, including those operating beyond our borders,” he said. He added that syndicates are leveraging technology to operate remotely, making enforcement more complex.

Singapore’s veteran food critic KF Seetoh has again raised concerns over mounting financial pressures faced by hawkers, urging them to increase prices to remain viable amid rising costs and global uncertainty. In a Facebook post on 18 March 2026, the founder of Makansutra highlighted the growing strain on hawkers, describing current conditions as “chaotic, expensive and dangerous”. Seetoh pointed to broader economic trends, noting that industries such as airlines and ride-hailing services have already raised prices to offset fuel and operational costs. He argued that similar pressures are cascading through the food supply chain, affecting transport, ingredient sourcing, and daily operations for hawkers. “When energy and petrol prices rise like a rocket, it’s a domino effect,” he wrote, adding that suppliers inevitably pass increased costs on to food vendors. Seetoh also questioned whether consumers fully understand the scale of cost increases, particularly for essentials such as cooking oil and bottled gas, which have surged significantly over the past three years. Call for price adjustments Urging hawkers to act, Seetoh encouraged them to raise prices, at least temporarily, to reflect current realities. He stressed that such adjustments should remain reasonable and transparent, and that hawkers need not justify their decisions excessively. According to his post, prices could be revised downward again if costs stabilise, while government support measures such as CDC vouchers could help cushion the impact on consumers. Seetoh also acknowledged the generosity of many hawkers, noting that some continue to provide meals at cost or for free to those in need, despite lacking formal subsidies.   Public reaction reflects broad support Online responses to Seetoh’s comments were largely supportive, with many netizens agreeing that price increases are justified given rising expenses. Several highlighted key cost drivers, including rent, fuel, ingredients, and wages, arguing that hawkers have little choice but to pass these on to customers. Some comments suggested that hawkers offering premium or “Michelin-standard” food could command higher prices based on demand, leaving pricing decisions to market forces. However, Seetoh countered that even highly rated establishments are not immune to financial pressures, noting that reputation does not guarantee sustainability. Concerns over policy and affordability The discussion also revealed frustration among some netizens regarding broader economic and policy issues. One comment criticised the government for maintaining a budget surplus while expecting hawkers to shoulder social responsibilities, arguing that policymakers are disconnected from ground realities. Others expressed concern that consumers are being overlooked, noting that prices rarely decrease even when costs fall. At the same time, several defended hawkers, suggesting that only a minority overcharge, while most are simply responding to unavoidable increases. Structural challenges beyond pricing Beyond immediate cost pressures, contributors highlighted deeper structural issues affecting the hawker sector. These include limited access to foreign labour, rising minimum wages, and difficulties in business succession. Some argued that closures are not solely driven by rent, but also by poor planning or a lack of long-term sustainability strategies. Seetoh added that hawkers themselves are also consumers facing rising living costs, calling for a more balanced understanding of the situation. Suggestions for addressing these challenges ranged from collective action and unionisation to more structured price adjustment mechanisms. However, scepticism remains over the feasibility of such measures, with some arguing that market dynamics and consumer choice will ultimately shape outcomes. Others noted that increasing operational costs, including utilities and supply chains, make price hikes inevitable, while consumers may respond by seeking alternatives such as home cooking.