The Police have arrested two men and a teenager, aged between 18 and 31, on 17 and 18 March 2020, for suspected involvement in more than 55 cases of scams where the victims collectively lost more than $13,500.
The identities of the trio were established through investigations and close cooperation with banks and e-commerce platforms. Briefly, the three cases are as follows:
a. A 18-year-old teenager, who is suspected to be responsible for 50 cases of e-commerce scams involving more than $4,900, was arrested on 17 March 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims responded to an advertisement on the sale of face masks on Carousell and were directed to make advance payments via bank transfers. The goods were not delivered, and the online seller became uncontactable. The teenager was charged in court on 19 March 2020 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, for which an offence carries an imprisonment term that may extend to 10 years and a fine.
b. A 26-year-old man, who is suspected to be involved in a case of cheating over Carousell, was arrested on 18 March 2020. The victim was told by the Carousell seller to help with transferring money into a bank account in return for a fee. After transferring more than $2,800 using the victim’s own money, the online seller became uncontactable. The suspect was charged in court on 20 March 2020 for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
c. A 31-year-old man, who is believed to be involved in at least four separate cases of e-commerce scams amounting to more than $5,600, was arrested on 18 March 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims responded to an advertisement on the sale of Apple AirPods and other items like desktop computers and bicycles on Carousell, and the victims were directed to make advance payments via bank transfers. The goods were not delivered and the online seller became uncontactable. He was charged in court on 20 March 2020 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
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 be very careful when making online purchases, especially during this period when scammers may try to leverage public anxieties arising from the ongoing COVID-19 situation:
a. Don’t Panic - Be rational when considering purchases and do not buy on impulse.
b. Don’t Believe - Scammers may use a local bank account or provide a copy of an NRIC/driver’s licence to show that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for this!
c. Don’t Give - Avoid making payments or deposits in advance. Use shopping platforms/arrangements that release your payments to the seller only upon receipt of the item(s). Buy only from reputable websites/platforms.
For more information on scams, visit www.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. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 March 2020 @ 10:45 AM