The Police have arrested a 28-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scam involving the sale of car accessories.
Between March 2022 and June 2022, the Police received multiple reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller who had advertised the sale of car accessories. After the payments were made by the victims via bank transfers, the seller allegedly failed to deliver the items purchased.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in other similar cases.
The man will be charged in court on 28 June 2022 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.
The Police take a serious view of persons who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt in accordance with the law. The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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 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.
Source: Singapore Police Force