The Police have arrested a 26-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams.
On 27 August 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller who advertised crystals on Instagram. After the victim made payment to the woman through electronic transfer, the woman became uncontactable.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 8 September 2020.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman is suspected to be involved in at least 13 cases of e-commerce scams, where victims reported losses amounting to more than $5,330.
Police investigations are ongoing. Anyone convicted with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code shall be punished with imprisonment for a 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:
- Don’t be impulsive – Do not buy on impulse. 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 – As you are dealing with strangers, avoid making payments or deposits in advance. Try to use shopping platforms/arrangements that release your payment to the seller only upon receipt of the item. Alternatively, arrange to meet the seller and pay only on delivery.
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 1800-255-0000or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 September 2020 @ 3:40 PM