The Police have arrested a 28-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.
Between March and April 2020, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by a seller who sold virtual game accessories on Carousell. The seller could not be contacted after payments were transferred to a bank account.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 15 April 2020. The man is believed to be involved in at least four cases of scams amounting to $485.
The man will be charged in court on 17 April 2020 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. The offence of cheating 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:
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, members of the public can 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.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 April 2020 @ 4:15 PM