The Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of car rental scams.
Between June and December 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller who had advertised cars for rental. The man allegedly did not provide the rental car after the payments were made.
Through extensive follow-up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 16 February 2022. Preliminary investigations revealed that he is believed to be involved in five other similar cases of car rental scams islandwide.
The man will be charged in court on 18 February 2022 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term that may extend to ten years and a fine.
The Police take a serious view of persons who may be involved in scams and frauds, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery, or use trusted e-commerce platforms to transact with sellers for goods and services. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- 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
17 February 2022 @ 3:35 PM