Man allegedly cheated $8k through ads for USS tickets and gift vouchers on Carousell, Gumtree

A 24-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of online cheating cases.

Since February 2018, the police have received multiple reports from victims who responded to online advertisements selling various items such as Universal Studios Singapore tickets, concert tickets and gift vouchers on Carousell and Gumtree.

The victims did not receive their items after payments ranging from $75 to $1,150 were made to bank accounts provided by the man. The total loss amounted to over $8000.

Through follow-up investigations, officers from Jurong Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on July 4.

The suspect was charged in court on Friday (July 6) with cheating.

Anyone found guilty for cheating may be punished with a jail term of up to ten years and/or a fine.

Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures to avoid falling prey to online purchase scams:

1. Don’t be impulsive – Purchase tickets only from authorised sellers, and take note of the terms and conditions of the ticket sale. If you are making purchases through online classifieds, be wary of people selling items for prices that sound too good to be true. Check the company or seller’s track record by reading reviews or contacting previous customers.
    

2. Don’t believe –Scammers may use a local bank account for the transaction or provide a copy of a NRIC or Driver’s licence to enhance their credibility. Bear in mind that these may not necessarily belong to the person communicating with you online. You may check the validity of a NRIC on ICA’s iEnquiry portal at https://www.scamalert.sg. Do not continue to deal with the party if the NRIC is invalid.
    

3. Don’t give – Avoid making payments or deposits in advance. Remember that the party you are dealing with is a stranger. Reduce your risks by arranging for physical meet-ups and 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.

For scam-related advice, members of the public can call the anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688 or go to www.scamalert.sg.