The Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams.
Between January 2020 and February 2020, the Police received several reports from victims who had purchased Grab credits and Apple iPhones at discounted prices on Carousell. After deposit payments were made by the victims via bank transfers, the seller became uncontactable.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the man and arrested him on 11 March 2020. He is believed to be involved in at least 20 cases of e-commerce scams, with victims’s losses amounting to more than $7,000.
The man was charged in court on 12 March 2020 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction on an online shopping site, find out how the site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
- Insist on cash on delivery especially if responding to online classified advertisements;
- If advance payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item;
- Be mindful that although sellers 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; and
- Note that scammers may use a local bank account to enhance credibility; however, the owner of the account may not be 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.
Samples of Carousell Listings
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
12 March 2020 @ 8:15 PM