The Police have arrested a 28-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman for their suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.
Since 26 March 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who were delivery personnel of parcel and food delivery companies. These victims claimed that they were purportedly cheated of their money by ‘customers’. The victims would first receive a cash-on-delivery order via their company’s delivery application. Under the pretext of making payment for the delivery, the scammers would allegedly request for the victims’ handphone number via the company’s delivery application, claiming that this is for the purpose of transferring money to the victim.
The victims would then receive a text message from the scammer requesting for an acknowledgement. After the victim acknowledges the message, deductions would apparently be discovered in the victim’s bank account. The scammer would then become uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division and Woodlands Police Division established the identities of the man and the woman and arrested them on 16 April 2021. The woman is believed to be involved in several other cheating cases.
The man is assisting Police with investigations while the woman will be charged in Court on 17 April 2021. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following measures:
- Do not click on URL links provided in unsolicited emails and text messages;
- Always verify the authenticity of information received with the official website or sources;
- Inform your bank immediately if your bank account has been linked to other accounts without your authorisation; and
- Report any fraudulent transactions made on your bank accounts to your bank immediately.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information related to such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 April 2021 @ 11:15 PM