The Police have arrested a 19-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-ticket scams on Carousell.
Between May and June 2018, the Police received multiple reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by several online sellers who were selling Universal Studios Singapore and Bruno Mars concert tickets. After payments were made by the victims via bank transfers, the suspect became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the suspect and arrested him on 7 November 2018 at 3.30pm along Havelock Road. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in more than 60 cases of e-commerce scams.
The man will be charged on 9 November 2018 with cheating, which is punishable with an imprisonment term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
While online shopping is convenient, the Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when shopping online:
- Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction on an online shopping site, find out how the site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
- Insist on cash on delivery especially if responding to online classified advertisements;
- If advance payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item;
- Be mindful that although culprits may provide a copy of an Identification Card or driver’s licence to gain your trust, it may not necessarily belong to the person communicating with you online; and
- Note that scammers may use a local bank account to enhance credibility; however the owner of the account may not be the person communicating with you online.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 November 2018 @ 9:45 PM