The Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of e-commerce scam.
In October 2019, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller who advertised cars for rental on Carousell. The man became uncontactable after payment was made by the victim.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 24 March 2020.
Police investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to be very careful when making online purchases, especially during this period:
a. Don’t Panic - Be rational when considering purchases and do not buy on impulse.
b. Don’t Believe - Scammers may use a local bank account or provide a copy of an NRIC/driver’s licence to show that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for this!
c. Don’t Give - Avoid making payments or deposits in advance. Use shopping platforms/arrangements that release your payments to the seller only upon receipt of the item(s). Buy only from reputable websites/platforms.
For more information on scams, visit www.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. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
26 March 2020 @ 10:30 AM