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A women's advocacy group called on Monday for a governing body to regulate Singapore matchmaking agencies that offer foreign brides, claiming the businesses are "largely unmonitored and unregulated."
While the agencies conduct strict checks on the sexual health and virginity of the prospective brides, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) found too few questions were asked regarding the marital status, criminal records, physical health and financial status of the eager grooms.
Many of the men still traditionally choose Malaysians and Indonesians. Brides from Vietnam and China are growing in popularity.
They pay the agencies between 5,000 Singapore dollars (3,225 US) and 20,000 Singapore dollars (12,903 US).
AWARE's study published in The Straits Times noted the agencies were largely profit-driven. "They may not conduct the necessary checks on their clients, leaving prospective foreign brides in a vulnerable position."
An example of such lax screening of prospective grooms enabled a 64-year-old man to lie about his background. The agency allowed him to take a young Vietnamese woman on a date. He conned her into having sex over five days in a hotel.
Fan Kiet Tang then brought the 21-year-old woman back to the agency which found he had paid with a dud check.
He was sentenced last December to 54 months in jail.
AWARE said matchmaking agencies should be compelled to verify a groom's background as soon as he registers with them.
"The matchmaking agency is the entity in which the foreign bride will place her confidence, and the way it conducts its business has a significant impact on...the bride," the report said.
Nearly 70 agencies are currently operating in the city-state. Last year 6,520 men married foreign brides, the highest number in the last 10 years.
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