MAN ARRESTED FOR CHEATING
The Police have arrested a 54-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of job scams.
On 11 September 2023, the Police received a report from a victim who had allegedly fallen prey to a job scam perpetrated by the man. The victim transferred a total of $4,100 to the man, who promised to secure the victim’s relative job opportunities in Singapore. After receiving the money, the man did not secure any job or have any job offers for the victim’s relative.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Central Police Division arrested the man on 24 October 2023. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in four other similar reports with the total amount cheated to be more than $15,000.
The man will be charged in court on 26 October 2023 with the offence of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The Police takes a serious view of cheating offences, and offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-688. 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
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
26 October 2023 @ 12:05 AM
Other scams
Zeng Xianfu Gibson, a 29-year-old former sales executive at a rental company, has been sentenced to three years and seven months in jail for his involvement in a large-scale rental scam that defrauded 68 victims of nearly S$383,000 (US$280,000). The sentencing was handed down in court on Wednesday, according to The Straits Times.
Zeng pleaded guilty to 23 charges of cheating, while an additional 39 charges were considered in the proceedings.
Background
The court heard that Zeng had been employed as a sales executive at the Singapore Housing Company, specializing in the rental of units in Singapore, between 2018 and 2020.
During his employment, Zeng was tasked with photographing rental units and arranging viewings for potential clients.
However, following his departure from the company, he misused the images he had taken by listing these units on Airbnb, despite lacking the authority or capacity to lease the advertised properties.
To make his fraudulent listings appear legitimate, Zeng supplied actual unit images and concocted bogus tenancy agreements for the unsuspecting victims.
The victims hailed from various countries, including the United States, France, South Africa, Germany, India, China, Portugal, Israel, Denmark, Switzerland, and Singapore.
Victim paid to rent unit, ended up had to stay in hotel
Court documents revealed that Zeng’s victims were duped into paying “deposits” ranging from S$7,000 to S$16,635 after responding to his fraudulent Airbnb listings in 2022. Among these victims were international students and locals seeking short-term accommodations.
One victim from Israel had arranged for Zeng to pick her up at Changi Airport, but he never appeared and failed to provide her with any rental space or a refund upon her arrival.
When it came time for most victims to move into their supposed units, Zeng would fabricate excuses, often citing that the outgoing tenant had contracted COVID-19. These falsehoods left many victims in a state of uncertainty and led to financial losses, with one victim even having to book a hotel stay as a result.
Multiple police reports were filed against Zeng, leading to his initial arrest in February 2022. However, after being released on station bail that same day, he continued to defraud others.
He was arrested again five months later, charged in court, and yet again resumed his illegal activities upon being released on court bail.
Finally, in October 2022, his bail was revoked, and he has been in remand since.