The Police have arrested a 25-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scam.
On 1 August 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller who advertised the sale of a portable air-con unit on Carousell. The online seller became uncontactable after the victim transferred $210 as payment.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the online seller and arrested her on 16 September 2020.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman is suspected to be involved in at least four other cases of e-commerce scams.
Investigations against the woman are ongoing. The offence of cheating, punishable 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 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 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 September 2020 @ 6:30 PM