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A Filipino domestic helper in Singapore has been jailed for 40 days after unknowingly helping transfer over $116,000 in scam proceeds to a Thai bank account. The funds were linked to internet love scams targeting elderly Singaporean women.

The helper, 36-year-old Mary Joe Blanco Galvez, acted at the request of a fellow maid, 57-year-old Maria Luz Suerte Lopez, who had been duped by a man claiming to be a US Army officer on TikTok. The man, “Alex Stillinger,” convinced Lopez to receive money from supposed gold investments.

Since Lopez had no bank account, she asked Galvez to use hers. Between 15 and 29 May 2024, Galvez received $118,133 and transferred about $116,000 to a Thai account. She earned S$1,151.50 in “token” payments.

Investigators later traced $20,300 of the funds to two scam victims, aged 61 and 70, who had fallen for romance scams. Galvez was arrested in October 2024 and pleaded guilty to one charge of transferring criminal proceeds.

While the court acknowledged she was manipulated, the judge emphasised the seriousness of scam-related crimes. Maria was sentenced separately to five months’ jail.

Read on the maid getting jailed over love scam money transfers here.