The Police have arrested a 25-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams.
Between 11 June to 14 October 2021, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller on Carousell. After payments were made by the victims via bank transfers, the seller purportedly became uncontactable.
Through investigations, officers from Clementi Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 14 October 2021. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in at least 100 cases of e-commerce scams amounting to more than $114,000.
Investigations are ongoing. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, is punishable with an imprisonment term that may extend to 10 years and a fine.
The Police would like to advise members of the public on the following:
- 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.
- Be wary of purported time-sensitive deals.
- Use 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.
- Verify the seller’s profile on online marketplaces through customer reviews and ratings.
- 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!
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information related to scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 October 2021 @ 12:00 PM