31 Y.O ARRESTED FOR HOTEL ROOM BOOKING SCAM

A 31-year-old man has been arrested for his alleged connection in a series of hotel room booking fraud incidents.

On March 18, 2022, the Police received a report from a victim who claimed the man had defrauded her out of a hotel room booking. The victim discovered the man’s bogus advertisement for hotel bookings on an internet site and continued to communicate with him over WhatsApp. The victim claimed did not obtain the hotel booking after paying $350 to the man through bank transfer.

Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division uncovered the man’s identify and apprehended him on March 30, 2022. According to preliminary findings, the individual may be engaged in other similar crimes.

The man was charged in court yesterday (March 31st) with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.

How to avoid such scams?

1. 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.
   
2. Avoid making impulsive booking and purchase only from authorised dealer or reputable sources.
   
3. Check with official sources such as the Singapore Tourism Board (www.stb.gov.sg) and the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (www.natas.travel) if the vendor is an accredited travel agent.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.