The Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for his suspected involvement in an e-commerce scam involving virtual game credits.
On 20 April 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who had been cheated by a seller who sold virtual game credits for the online game, Runescape, on Carousell. The seller became uncontactable after payment was made in advance via bank transfer.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 29 April 2020.
Investigations against the man are ongoing.
The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 carries an imprisonment that may extend 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:
a) If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.
b) Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller as this method does not offer any protection.
c) Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also use a local bank account or provide a copy of a NRIC/driver’s licence to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!
If you wish to provide any information related to such scams, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’.
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 0000or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 April 2020 @ 2:50 PM