A 24-year-old man has been arrested by the police for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce car rental scams. The police received a report on January 26, 2024, from a victim who had been allegedly cheated by an online seller who had advertised cars for rental on Carousell. The victim made the payment but could not contact the seller after the transaction.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on May 15, 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was involved in other similar cases, leading to a combined monetary loss of $2,200.
Suspect to Face Charges in Court
The suspect will be charged in court on May 17, 2024, with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. If found guilty, the suspect faces an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.
Police Advise Public to Take Precautions
The police have advised members of the public to adopt several precautionary measures to avoid falling victim to such scams. These measures include downloading the ScamShield app and setting security features such as two-factor authentication for banks, social media, and Singpass accounts. It is also recommended to set transaction limits on internet banking transactions, including PayNow.
Additionally, the public should check for scam signs with official sources such as visiting www.scamalert.sg or calling the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. The public should be wary of attractive, time-sensitive deals where only limited stocks are available and should avoid making upfront payments to bank accounts belonging to unknown individuals. Whenever possible, the public should avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
Report Scams and Spread Awareness
If members of the public have information relating to such crimes or if they are in doubt, they should call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If urgent police assistance is required, please dial ‘999’.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. The public can join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with family and friends. Fighting scams is a community effort, and together, we can ACT Against Scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim!