The Police have arrested a 28-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams.
On 12 December 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller who had advertised the sales of Rolex watches on Carousell. After the victim had made a payment of S$5000 via bank transfer, the seller became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 22 December 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman is also believed to be involved in a series of e-commerce scams involving the sales of iPhone 12 Pro Max on Facebook.
The woman will be charged in court on 24 December 2020 with the offence of cheating. The offence of cheating under section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 is punishable with an imprisonment term 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
23 December 2020 @ 6:12 PM