The Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a rental scam.
On 13 March 2025, the Police received a report lodged by a victim of a suspected rental scam. The victim had come across a Facebook advertisement on rooms for rent at a residential unit along Yishun Ring Road and contacted the man to express interest. After the victim paid deposits amounting to more than $2,400 via bank transfers, the man allegedly cancelled the agreement and did not rent out the room as promised.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on the same day.
The man will be charged in court on 15 March 2025 with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.
The Police would like to remind members of the public to be wary of such scams and to adopt the following precautionary measures to avoid falling prey to rental scams:
- Do not make any advance payment until the tenancy is confirmed, and pay the rental deposit and rent by cheque or bank transfer for documentary proof;
- Visit the housing unit which you intend to rent to confirm its existence, check its condition, and look for potential signs of subletting; and
- Verify the identities of the person/s whom you are dealing with and their relationship to the housing unit, especially when you are not engaging the services of a licensed estate agent or registered salespersons.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
14 March 2025 @ 4:45 PM