The Police have arrested two men aged 22 and 27 for their suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.
Between 10 and 23 March 2017, Police received several reports from victims who had been cheated after buying Coldplay concert tickets on Carousell. After coming across a Carousell listing selling the tickets at a discounted price, the victims contacted the seller and were instructed to transfer payment to bank accounts. However, the victims did not receive the tickets after transferring the money and the seller became uncontactable.
Officers from Bedok Division conducted extensive investigations to establish the identities of the suspects and arrested the two men on 27 March 2017.
Anyone found guilty with the offence of Cheating may be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 10 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
While online shopping is convenient, the Police would like to advise members of the public to buy tickets from official sources and to take the following precautions when shopping online:
· Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction, find out how the online site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
· Whenever possible, pay only on delivery.
· If advanced payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item; and
· Be mindful that although scammers may provide a copy of an Identification Card or Driver’s licence to gain your trust, it may not necessarily belong to the person communicating with you online.
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
29 March 2017 @ 4:30 PM