Given the current restrictions in overseas travel as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, demand for staycations has been on the rise. Unfortunately, the increased demand has also brought on the increase in scams.

According to police statistics for 2020, e-commerce scams remain the top scam in Singapore with the highest number of reported cases.

E-commerce scam cases have increased by 19.1 per cent to 3,354 cases in 2020, from 2,816 cases in 2019. The total amount cheated increased to S$6.9 million in 2020, from S$2.3 million in 2019. The largest sum cheated in a single case in 2020 was S$1.9 million.

A young couple’s plans for a staycation at Marina Bay Sands were foiled after they were tricked to part with over S$277,000 of their cash – over a period of four months – by a Carousell seller, who offered discounted hotel stays in the five-star hotel.

Although the couple was repeatedly reassured by the Caroussell seller that they would get their money back, they have so far been out of pocket. The seller, 27, who sold discounted hotel stays in Marina Bay Sands, even gave them a physical address to pick up the cash, but always cancelled such meetings at the last minute.

Eventually, the couple decided to lodge a police report, and the scammer was charged in court last month.

How it happened

The couple usually book their staycations through caroussell and this particular seller had reliable reviews. The couple initially paid $29,000 for nine hotel suites with three-night stays each. Thereafter, the seller came up with excuses as a ploy to siphon more money off the couple, claiming that the couple needed to pay cancellation fees even though he did not secure the booking for them.
The seller had managed convinced the young couple to transfer more money to him so that he could purportedly pay off other buyers and have his bank account unfrozen by the authorities.

To stop them from approaching the hotel directly, he told them that he had booked the rooms under a Paiza membership which does not allow members to sell rooms. He even showed them his S$230,000 bank balance to convince them that he did have the money to refund them.

The couple said that they got so wrapped up in the situation that they did not know what else to do, or how to get their money back. The scammer was finally arrested on 21 January, and has been charged in court.

It is not known if the couple got their monies back in full or partial.

Why are scams on the rise, and how do they get you?

With more goods and services being transacted online, it is unsurprising that con artists have also taken their trade to the digital sphere.

One ruse that scammers frequently use is to make their stories as realistic as possible. They try to present evidence to convince their victims of their authenticity. This is likely the case when the young couple was shown the scammer’s S$230,000 bank balance.

A police psychologist has cautioned the public that scammers use techniques common in some of the best advertisements to ensnare their victims. Some victims have fallen for scams even after seeing anti-scam advisories while others remain unconvinced even when police officers try to intervene.

What is being done?

The police have set up an Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) in June last year to focus on disrupting scam operations and to reduce monetary losses by working with business operators, such as financial institutions, telecommunication companies, and digital platform owners.

A key advantage that the ASC has is the ability to get banks to freeze accounts suspected to be involved in scam within a few days. Previously, this could have taken up to two weeks to execute.

While the police have said that it will continue to educate the public on scams through online campaigns, roadshows, and community volunteers, it also stressed that family members can contribute to preventing family members from falling prey to crime.

Subscribe
Notify of
9 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Facebook doubles down on removing hateful and misleading accounts and content in Myanmar

Facebook is coming down hard on pages and accounts that spread hate…

MP Jamus Lim calls for smaller class size in schools, says teachers still struggle with heavy workload no matter how outstanding they are

Speaking in Parliament on 3 March during the Committee of Supply debate,…

新马对港口海域界限未达共识 下月会面协商

马来西亚与新加坡就港口海域界限一事展开討论,惟双方无法达成共识,將在明年1月再次就有关课题进行协商。 马外交部发文告表示,该国无法接受新加坡对新马领海问题的建议,但將採取一切有效措施,缓和当地局势,並重申马国以平静及和平方式去处理局势的立场。 文告称,该部已召见新加坡最高专员,以讨论有关在10月25日颁佈的修改柔佛新山港口海域界限宪报,以及新加坡在12月6日,宣佈新加坡港口海域界限的最新进展。 对于马国无法接受恢复10月25日前原状的建议,我国在昨日发表声明,表达失望。 我国对马缓和局势态度感鼓舞 根据声明,内政部长兼律政部长尚穆根和总检察长黄鲁胜于上周五(7日),与马国总检察长汤米托马斯见面,讨论新马在我国大士一带的领海纠纷。 当时我国官员向汤米托马斯建议,马国讲新山港界恢复到10月25日前的状态。 “这將避免误解和当地潜在问题。马来西亚在这领域的部署不会加强其法律诉讼,相反只会加剧局势的紧张,並可能造成意外和危险事故。” 不过,我国对于马国承诺采取一切有效措施缓和局势,感到鼓舞。 敦马:愿和新加坡商谈 另一方面,马国首相敦马指出,将与新加坡针对新马海域争议谈判,但目前马国船只依然会在该海域行驶,直到达成协议。 “目前还没决定,船只在那里。新加坡的船只在那里,我们的船只在那里。我们船只还是会在前往相关海域,直到协商达成。”…

Police investigating teens brawl at a basketball court in Boon Keng

SINGAPORE — A video circulated on social media showed at least eight…