The Police have arrested a 27-year-old male for his suspected involvement in a series of car rental scams and criminal breach of trust.
Between June 2019 and July 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller who advertised cars for rental. The man purportedly did not provide the rental car and became uncontactable after the payments were made. There were also reports made against him for criminal breach of trust by vehicle owners.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Clementi Police Division established the identity of the suspect and arrested him on 23 July 2021.
The man will be charged in court on 24 July 2021 for the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code and criminal breach of trust under Section 406 of the Penal Code. The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 10 years and a fine. The offence of criminal breach of trust carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 7 years, a fine, or both.
The Police take a serious view of persons who may be involved in scams and frauds, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery, or use trusted e-commerce platforms to transact with sellers for goods and services. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- 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.
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
23 July 2021 @ 7:50 PM