The Singapore Police Force stated that it had arrested a man for his suspected involvement in several cases of cheating involving at least twelve victims.
The Police said that it received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by a seller after placing orders for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus via a social media platform since 16 September 2016.
The victim reported that the 30-year-old man became uncontactable after they made the deposits.
Officers from Central Division conducted extensive investigations to establish the identity of the suspect and arrested the man at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 on 21 September 2016.
The Police said that the suspect would be charged in court with the offence of Cheating on 23 September 2016. If convicted, anyone found guilty of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, may be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
The Police would like to advise members of public that while online shopping is convenient, taking the following precautions when shopping online is necessary:
- Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction, find out how the online site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes.
- Whenever possible, pay only on delivery.
- If advanced payments are required, use shopping platforms that provide arrangements to only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item.
- Be mindful that although culprits may provide a copy of an Identification Card or Driver’s licence to gain your trust, it may not necessarily belong to the person communicating with you online.
