The Police have arrested a 28-year-old man for his suspected involvement in three cases of cheating, involving the purported sale of shopping vouchers and Apple air tags.
Between April and July 2024, the Police received three reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller, who had advertised discounted shopping vouchers and Apple air tags for sale on Carousell and Amazon SG. The man allegedly failed to deliver the items after payments were made via PayNow or bank transfers and became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 15 July 2024. Investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in these three cases with losses amounting to more than $1,300.
The man will be charged in court on 16 July 2024 with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to ten 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 license 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 Helpline 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/i-witness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 July 2024 @ 8:15 PM