The Police have arrested a 64-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams and cheating cases.
Between 4 May 2019 and 2 May 2020, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller who had advertised hotel room tickets at lower prices on Carousell or promised job offers on Gumtree. After the victims made payments via bank transfers, the seller became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 1 December 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in at least 13 cases of e-commerce scams and cheating cases amounting to $7,850.
The man will be charged in court with cheating on 3 December 2020. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment that may extend to ten years, and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- 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.
- 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 as this method does not offer any protection.
- 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!
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
02 December 2020 @ 11:10 PM