Police have arrested a 49-year-old man who is believed to be involved in at least 20 cases of rental scams.
2 On 14 February 2015, two similar cases of flat rental scams were reported. In these two cases, the victims had responded to advertisement placed online for rental of a unit in Boon Lay Drive and Ghim Moh Road. The suspect would then follow up and arrange with the victims to view the unit, and thereafter collect money ranging from $2400 to $2840 from them as advance payment and deposit for the flat rental. After collecting the rental fees, he could not be contacted.
3 Upon receiving the reports, officers from Central Police Division conducted extensive follow-up investigations and eventually arrested the suspect at Jalan Besar on 17 February 2015 at 1.25 am. Upon his arrest, receipt books and files containing stacks of tenancy agreement were found and seized as case exhibits. Preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect is believed to be involved in more than 20 counts of rental scams using flats at Mei Ling Street, Ghim Moh Road and Boon Lay Drive.
4 The suspect will be charged in Court on 18 February 2015 for the offence of Cheating which carries a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and a fine.
5 Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following crime prevention measures when seeking to rent a unit:
a) Visit the flat you wish to rent and ensure that the person you are dealing with is the rightful flat owner. Request documentary proof of flat ownership that bears the flat owner’s name.
b) Ensure that the owner registers the subletting of the flat with the HDB within 7 days from the subletting date.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
17 February 2015 @ 9:15 PM