The Police have arrested a 22–year-old man and a 34–year-old woman for their suspected involvement in two separate cases of credit-for-sex scams.
In the first case, on 18 May 2019, the Police received a report from a victim who informed that he was purportedly cheated by a ‘woman’ who had asked him to make an advance payment into a bank account in exchange for sexual services. After the payment was made, the ‘woman’ became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division arrested a 22-year-old man on 12 September 2019. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to have masqueraded as a woman on online platforms to cheat.
In the second case, on 16 June 2019, the Police received a report from a victim who informed that he was purportedly cheated by a woman who had asked him to make an advance payment into a bank account in exchange for sexual services. After the payment was made, the woman became uncontactable. Through investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 6 September 2019.
The duo are believed to be involved in the other similar cases reported island wide. Investigations are ongoing.
Any person found guilty for the offence of cheating may be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend up to 10 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
The Police would like to remind members of the public to take the following steps to avoid falling for such scams:
- Be wary when you receive friend requests from strangers on online dating or social media applications, especially when they are offering escort, massage or sexual services.
- Do not give out your personal details to strangers on the Internet.
- Do not provide PINs or serial codes of online shopping credits (e.g. Alipay credits) to strangers whom you have just met over the Internet.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 September 2019 @ 3:00 PM