The Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for cheating involving exchange of a foreign currency.
On 1 February 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller who advertised good exchange rates for Singapore dollars to Chinese Renminbi via the online platform Carousell. After payments were made by the victims, the seller became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 9 February 2021. The man allegedly cheated at least seven victims of about S$14,000.
The 33-year-old man will be charged in court on 10 February 2021. Anyone found guilty of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code may be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 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 be very careful when making online purchases:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also use a local bank account or provide a copy of a NRIC/driver’s licence to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!
- 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
09 February 2021 @ 11:40 PM