The Police have arrested three men, aged between 52 and 62, for their suspected involvement in a case of conspiracy to commit cheating involving the use of fake gold ingots.
On 19 June 2024 at about 3.15pm, the Police received a report that a female victim was cheated of $4000 after two men handed over to her gold ingots for safekeeping. Preliminary investigations revealed on 19 June 2024 at about 1pm, the victim was approached by two men along Tras Street claiming to have found gold ingots while excavating the ground at an unknown site in Singapore.
The men claimed that they wanted to send the gold ingots back to China but were unsure of the legal process hence offered for victim to safekeep the gold ingots but to hand them cash as collateral. The men also produced a document in old Chinese writings, resembling an old will, as well as a small piece of gold ingot. The victim then brought the two men to goldsmith shop along Eu Tong Sen Street to verify the authenticity of the small piece of gold ingot, and it was verified to be genuine. After the gold had been authenticated, the two men took back the genuine gold ingot and handed over other purported gold ingots to the victim and told her to pay $4000 as a collateral. The victim went to the same goldsmith shop to further authenticate the other gold ingots and the gold ingots were found to be fake. Upon realising she was a victim of scam and discovered the two men had left the place, she alerted the Police.
Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from PolCam and CCTV camera footages, officers from Central Police Division established the identity of the two men and arrested them along Aliwal Street on 20 June 2024. Through further investigations, the officers also arrested another accomplice and seized a number of case exhibits which included over 80 pieces of mini gold-coloured ingots, a piece of paper with Chinese writings and six gold-coloured mini-Buddha statues.
The three men will be charged in court on 22 June 2024 with conspiracy to commit cheating under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code 1871, which is punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years and fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to be wary of such scams. To avoid falling victim to such scam, members of public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- Always buy from established and authorised/reputable retailers. Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true; and
- Enlist a professional’s assistance to verify the authenticity and value of any high value items you intend to purchase before making payment.
Photographs of the case exhibits
Mini gold-coloured ingots ▼
Close up view of a mini gold-coloured ingot ▼
Gold-coloured mini-Buddha statues ▼
Close up view of a gold-coloured mini-Buddha statue ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 June 2024 @ 9:30 PM