The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced that a 30-year-old man who is believed to be involved in multiple cases of online purchase scams had been arrested.
The Police said that it received numerous reports from victims who purpotedly cheated by a seller who offered a discounted price for PS4 game consoles between 4 and 28 September.
The victims did not receive the items after the payments had been made. When asked, the suspect gave various excuses. The total amount involved was approximately $6,000.
Officers from Jurong Division conducted extensive investigations and established the identity of the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested along Toh Guan Road East on 4 October 2016.
The suspect will be charged in Court on 6 October 2016 with the offence of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code Chapter 224. Anyone found guilty of the offence may be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 10 years, and shall be liable to a fine.
The Police advises that while online shopping is convenient, members of the public must take the following precautions when shopping online:
- 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; and
- 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.
