The Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams involving sale of a luxury watch.
On 11 February 2021, the Police received a report from a victim who was allegedly cheated by an online seller who advertised a luxury watch purportedly worth about $30,000 at a discounted price on Carousell. After the victim made an initial payment of $25,000 via bank transfer, the luxury watch was delivered but later discovered to be a counterfeit. The seller then allegedly became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 12 February 2021. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is allegedly involved in at least three other cases of e-commerce scams.
Police investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code is punishable with an imprisonment term that may extend 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:
- 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.
- 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 as this method does not offer any protection.
- 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!
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
12 February 2021 @ 7:30 PM