The Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for his suspected involvement in an e-commerce scam.
On 20 October 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who had purportedly been cheated of $100 by an online seller who had sold him a redeemed Google Play card on Carousell. After payment was made by the victim via PayNow, the seller became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 28 October 2020.
Investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction on an online shopping site, find out how the site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
- Insist on cash on delivery especially if responding to online classified advertisements;
- If advance payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item;
- Be mindful that although sellers may provide a copy of an identification card or driver’s licence to gain your trust, it may not necessarily belong to the person communicating with you online; and
- Note that scammers may use a local bank account to enhance credibility; however, the owner of the account may not be the person communicating with you online.
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
28 October 2020 @ 7:20 PM