Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman suspected to be involved in a series of online purchase scams where victims were convinced into making advanced payments for tickets below market rate. The tickets were not delivered as promised and the woman would then be un-contactable.
2 Upon receiving the reports, Police conducted extensive investigations and arrested the woman along Joo Chiat Road on 13 April 2015. Further investigations revealed that the woman had made use of bank accounts belonging to other individuals to receive the proceeds of her crime.
3 The woman will be charged in Court on 15 April 2015 for the offence of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, she may be jailed for a term of not extending more than 10 years.
5 Members of public are advised to adopt the following measures:
-
Do business with those you know and trust. Be sure you know who the company or person is and where they are physically located. Businesses operating in cyberspace may be located in another part of the world. Resolving problems with someone unfamiliar may be more complicated when it comes to cross-border transactions.
-
Understand the offer. Look carefully at the information about the goods and ask for more details when required. A legitimate business would gladly provide it. Ensure that you know what is being sold, the total price, the delivery date, the return & cancellation policy and the terms of any guarantee. Do not be lured by the discount to purchase the goods.
-
Never give your bank account numbers, credit card numbers and personal information to anyone you do not know or have not checked out. Do not provide information that is not necessary to make the purchase.
-
Check out the track record of the company/seller. Ask the company/seller for their list of clients/customers. Make enquiries with the clients/customers on the background and services provided by the company/seller. Be wary that fraud artists can appear and disappear especially in cyberspace, so the lack of a complaint record is no guarantee of legitimacy.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
14 April 2015 @ 7:30 PM