Between 19 and 21 June 2017, Police received several reports from victims who had been cheated after ordering Hari Raya cakes and cookies from a user advertising the sale of these goods on Instagram. After contacting the seller, the victims were instructed to transfer the payment for their orders. However, the victims did not receive the goods and were unable to contact the seller subsequently.
Officers from Bedok Police Division conducted extensive investigations to establish the identities of the suspects and arrested the duo on 29 June 2017.
The woman will be charged in Court on 1 July 2017 with an offence of Cheating, which is punishable with an imprisonment term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Investigations against the man are ongoing.
While shopping online is convenient, Police would like to advise members of the public to purchase from official shopping platforms and adopt the following precautions when shopping online:
- Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction, find out how the online site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
- Whenever possible, pay only on delivery;
- If advanced payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to release your payment to the seller only upon your receipt of the item; and
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
30 June 2017 @ 7:00 PM