The Police have arrested a 35-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.
On 26 June 2021, the Police received a report from a victim who was purportedly cheated by an online seller after participating in an online auction. The seller had offered the victim an attractive price for the phone. After the payment was transferred by the victim through i-banking, the seller purportedly did not deliver the phone and became uncontactable.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 5 July 2021. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in several other similar cases of scams.
The man will be charged in court on 7 July 2021 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment 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:
- 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 or 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 www.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
06 July 2021 @ 4:10 PM