Property agent receives disturbing letter offering property deal in exchange for sex

SINGAPORE: A property agent in Singapore has lodged a police report after receiving a disturbing letter from a supposed client who offered to purchase a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat through her in exchange for sex.

Desiree Leung, a 30-year-old Senior Marketing Director at ERA Realty, said she was shocked and unsettled by the letter, which was mailed directly to her company and addressed to her personally.

Leung shared the incident via Instagram on 30 June, describing her discomfort upon reading the contents.

The letter initially appeared to be a normal property enquiry but quickly turned explicit, inviting her to the sender’s home and asking her to “spend one hour” with him.

It also specified a meeting time and place — 6 July 2025 at 10am, outside Jalan Besar Town Council — and implied that she would receive a significant commission for accepting the proposition.

“If you agree, you may come to Jalan Besar Town Council on July 6, 2025, at 10am sharp. Do not miss this valuable opportunity. You will benefit and get a high commission,” the letter read.

 

 

 

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A post shared by 🏡 Desiree Leung | Singapore Realtor 🇸🇬 (@desireeleung)

Leung: “I was in shock”

Speaking to MS News, Leung said she felt “greatly disturbed and uncomfortable that someone even dared to do this.”

She explained that the letter was received at her office on 29 June, and she collected it the following day without suspecting anything unusual.

Although the first few paragraphs read like a standard property inquiry, she was stunned when she discovered the indecent proposal in the latter part of the message.

Leung said the fact that the letter was physically mailed — rather than sent through digital communication channels like text or email — made the incident particularly alarming.

The experience has left her concerned for her personal safety, given the nature of her work, which involves meeting new clients regularly.

Previous harassment incidents

This was not the first time Leung had encountered inappropriate behaviour while working.

In a separate incident, a man who contacted her about renting a property exposed himself during a WhatsApp video call. Leung immediately terminated the call and blocked the number.

She also recalled receiving numerous unsolicited and inappropriate messages from men who attempted to approach her under the guise of property inquiries.

Leung said that some of her female colleagues in the real estate and insurance industries have experienced similar or even more serious forms of harassment, including being filmed without consent or physically harassed.

Speaking out to raise awareness

Leung said she decided to share her experience on social media not only to document the event but also to raise awareness about harassment faced by women in client-facing professions.

She later posted the story on TikTok after receiving messages of concern from friends and colleagues who urged her to report the matter.

She confirmed that a police report has been filed. Authorities informed her that she would be notified within seven working days if an investigation is initiated.

Leung, who is a mother of three, said her main motivation in speaking out was to highlight the need for respect and safety for women working in sales and service sectors.

“If I’m subjected to this kind of harassment, I can only imagine what younger female agents might face,” she said.

“Just because we market ourselves publicly doesn’t mean we’ve signed up to be disrespected. We’re all human and deserve basic kindness and respect.”