19-year-old Carousell user arrested for scams involving USS and Bruno Mars concert tickets

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday (Nov 13) for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams on Carousell.

Between May and June 2018, the police received multiple reports about victims being purportedly cheated by several online sellers who had listed Universal Studios Singapore e-tickets and Bruno Mars concert tickets for sale.

After the victims made payments via bank transfers, the suspect became uncontactable.

Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the suspect's identity and arrested him along Kallang Road at 4.30pm.

One laptop, one tablet and four handphones were seized as cases exhibits.

(Photo: Singapore Police Force)

The man is believed to be involved in at least 60 cases of e-commerce scams, revealed preliminary investigations.

He will be charged in court on Thursday (Nov 15) with abetment to cheating, which is punishable with a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The police advise members of the public to 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 on an online shopping site, find out how the site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;

• Insist on cash on delivery especially if responding to online classified advertisements;

• 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;

• Note that scammers may use a local bank account to enhance credibility; however the owner of the account may not be the person communicating with you online.

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.