The Police have arrested a 42-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of rental scam.
Between June and November 2022, the Police received eighteen reports of home rental scams involving more than $43,000 lost by the victims. The victims posted online advertisement looking for a residential unit to rent, and the woman had contacted them to offer her unit. Unbeknownst to the victims, the woman was in the midst of selling the unit to a new owner and had collected advance rental deposits and payments from them before signing on the rental agreements.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 14 November 2022.
The woman will be charged in court on 16 November 2022 for the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Members of the public are reminded to be wary of such scams and to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- Do not make any advance payment until the tenancy is confirmed, and pay the rental deposit and rents by cheque or via bank transfer for documentary proof;
- Visit the housing unit which you intend to rent to confirm its existence, state of condition and signs of multiple subletting; and
- Verify the identities of the person/s whom you are dealing with and their relationship to the housing unit, especially when you are not engaging the services of a licensed estate agent or registered salespersons.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit 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
15 November 2022 @ 11:00 PM