The Police have arrested two male teenagers, aged 18 and 19, for their suspected involvement in an e-commerce scam.
On 24 September 2019, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller who was selling mobile phones on Carousell. The victim did not receive the mobile phone after allegedly making payment of more than S$700 via bank transfer. The seller became uncontactable thereafter.
Through investigations, officers from Jurong Police Division established the identities of the 19-year-old teenager and his acquaintance and arrested them on 5 August 2020.
Police investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating, punishable under Section 420 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- 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 when 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 sellers 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 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 1800-255-0000or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 August 2020 @ 12:00 PM