2 Teens Arrested After Cheating Victims More Than $5k on Carousell
Come on Boys!~ Didn’t you all know that our country has one of the tightest security and there is close to the impossible way you can break it through cheating unless you are James Bond or Tom Cruise on Mission Impossible. 
On Tuesday (Aug 4), two 16-year-old teens were arrested after involving in a series of e-commerce scams, the scam happens between March – July 2020 after police received several reports regarding issue about victims getting cheated by online seller who is selling high-end gaming PCS on Carousell. And right after making payment to the seller via cash on delivery or bank transfer, the victim will claim that they received the item which is in the lower specification.
Through investigations and close collaboration with Carousell, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the teenager and his acquaintance and arrested them. Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo is believed to have created more than ten victims of more than $5,000.
The police take a serious view of persons who may be involved in scams and frauds, and perpetrators will be dealt with, in accordance with the law.
Members of the public are advised to be very careful when making online purchases:
- Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller.
- Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also use a local bank account or provide a copy of an NRIC/driver’s license to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!
- If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from authorized sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.
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.
