Following a four-day operation conducted from 11 to 14 September 2018 by officers from Jurong Police Division, 16 men and four women, aged between 17 and 57, are currently assisting in investigations for their suspected involvement in e-commerce scams and commercial crime-related offences. The suspects are believed to be involved in 51 cases where victims lost a sum of $200,846.
Five of the suspects are believed to have carried out various scams such as online purchase scams advertising the sale of motorcycle parts and K-pop merchandise, as well as investment scams where victims responded to online advertisements promising quick returns.
Another 11 are believed to have allowed their bank accounts to be used by criminals to facilitate scams. These include online purchase scams where scammers advertised the sale of Universal Studios Singapore tickets, concert tickets and mobile phones on Carousell.
The remaining four suspects are believed to be involved in separate cases of cheating and criminal breach of trust.
17 suspects are being investigated for the offence of cheating under the Penal Code which carries a punishment of imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine, or money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to S$500,000. The remaining 3 suspects are being investigated for the offence of criminal breach of trust as servant which carries a punishment of imprisonment which may extend to 15 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
Commander of Jurong Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Devrajan Bala commended his officers on their determination in pursuing leads and in rounding up the suspects. He added that the Police take a serious view against persons involved in scams and frauds, and that the Police will not let up in its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Members of the public are advised to adopt the following measures to avoid falling victim to online purchase scams:
- Do not share your personal information such as your identification number, bank account number, One-Time Passwords, or SMS-verification codes with anyone. Your personal information may be abused by scammers;
- 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;
- Buy goods from authorised dealers. 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.
To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or handphone lines as you will be held accountable if these accounts are linked to illegal transactions.
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
14 September 2018 @ 8:40 PM