The Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases involving the sale of counterfeit goods.
Between March and August 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who reported that they had been cheated in purchasing counterfeit luxury goods such as handbags, from an online seller on Carousell. In the seller’s online advertisements, the goods were claimed to be authentic and was selling at a lower price. Investigations revealed that the seller would allegedly order the goods from a foreign e-commerce platform after he had received payments from the victims. The seller would subsequently deliver the goods to the victims.
Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the online seller and arrested the man on 15 September 2021. Preliminary investigations revealed he is believed to be involved in other similar cases.
The man will be charged in court on 17 September 2021 with cheating, punishable under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 license to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!
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.
Photograph of the advertisements posted by the man, advertising the goods as genuine
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 September 2021 @ 5:45 PM