The Police have arrested a 29-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams.
Between 3 and 7 March 2024, the Police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller advertising the sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets on Carousell. Upon receiving the payments via PayNow or bank transfer, she failed to deliver the concert tickets and became uncontactable.
Through follow up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 11 March 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that she is believed to be involved in other similar reports with losses amounting to more than $24,000.
The woman will be charged in court on 12 March 2024 with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of cheating 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 helpline 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
11 March 2024 @ 9:35 PM