The Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating involving counterfeit goods.
Between June 2020 to August 2020, the Police received several reports from victims who claimed that they had made payments for branded bags on Carousell which were advertised as authentic but instead received counterfeit products. The seller became uncontactable thereafter.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Jurong Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 5 August 2020.
Police investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code is punishable with an imprisonment term that may extend to 10 years, and a fine.
The Police take a serious view of persons who are involved in scams and offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law. The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when shopping online:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also 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!
- If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.
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
06 August 2020 @ 10:40 PM