AN UNEMPLOYED man who cheated several people in a rent scam of about $13,000 was jailed for 18 months on Wednesday.

Tan Chin Heng, 40, pleaded guilty to three charges of deceiving two women and a man of $10,600 between August 2007 and June last year.

A district court heard that he cheated a China national, Ms He Yan Fen, of $2,000 by promising her high returns for her investment.

About a month after she arrived on Aug 8, 2007, Tan drove her to Bishan, claiming they were driving through Singapore's financial district.

When they arrived at the CPF Building in the housing estate, Tan told her that they were in a stockbroking firm.

He said he had opened an account with $5,000 in the company, and suggested that she put her money into his account so that they could split the profits earned.

She handed over $2,000 to him and he arranged to meet her four days later to hand over her share of profits.

But he postponed the meeting till the next day and failed to show up. She made a police report when he became uncontactable.

Tan also conned Ms Lee Huay Heong, 24, into giving him $1.000 as rent for a flat at Block 93 Henderson Road in June last year.

When the victim went there and found the placed secured with two padlocks, she queried Tan, who said his girlfriend was staying there, and would be moving out. But Ms Lee went there two days later and found the two padlocks still there.

She found out from an occupant in the adjacent unit that Tan was not the owner and that several people had also been denied entry. She made a police report.

The other victim, Mr Tan Chye Huat, 35, had issued a $7,600 cheque to Tan in March last year after responding to his advertisement that he had an apartment in Lorong 14 Geylang for rent.

Tan, who has four convictions for cheating, had five other charges considered, including failing to report his change of residence within 28 days.