The Police have arrested a 26-year-old man on 13 September 2023 for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating involving the sale of second-hand cars.
On 11 September 2023, the Police received a report from a victim who had purportedly been cheated by an online seller who advertised for the sale of a car on Carousell. The victim agreed on the selling price and the seller told the victim to continue the conversation with him via WhatsApp. The victim had purportedly made a downpayment of $40,000 through PayNow transfer to an alleged finance company. After the payment was made, the seller became uncontactable and the car was undelivered.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Central Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 13 September 2023. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man may be involved in other similar cheating cases.
The man will be charged in court on 15 September 2023 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence 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/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 Helpline 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. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim!
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
14 September 2023 @ 9:45 PM