Scammers tend to leverage the popularity of sales on Singles’ Day and Black Friday, which will be held on 11 and 23 November 2018 respectively, to cheat victims who are eager to take advantage of big discounts. Between January and September 2018, the Police received more than 1800 reports of e-commerce scams, with at least $1.5 million cheated. Victims typically fell prey to bogus offers that were advertised on online platforms like Carousell. Items were not received after payments were made.
Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- Don’t be impulsive – Be wary of online advertisements at cheap prices that sound too good to be true. As far as possible, purchase only from authorised sellers. If you are shopping online, read the reviews of the seller before committing to a purchase.
- Don’t believe – Scammers may use a local bank account or provide a copy of a NRIC/driver’s licence to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it.
- Don’t give – Avoid making payments or deposits in advance. If advance payments are required, use shopping platforms or arrangements that release your payment to the seller only upon receipt of the item. Alternatively, arrange to meet the seller before making any payment.
If you wish to provide any information related to such crimes, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. For urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’.
To seek scam-related advice, you may call the National Crime Prevention Council’s anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688 or visit www.scamalert.sg. Share this advisory with your family and friends to prevent them from being the next victim of scam.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
10 November 2018 @ 10:00 AM