Man went MIA after offering renovation services, cheated victims of over $130k

A 48-year-old man was arrested on Thursday (July 16) for his suspected involvement in a series of renovation scams.

Between December 2019 and July 2020, the police received multiple reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by the man who offered them renovation services.

"The victims had engaged his service when he approached the victims’ homes to promote his renovation service. The man became uncontactable after payments were made," said the police in a statement.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is suspected to be involved in more than 20 cases islandwide.

The amount cheated is estimated to be more than S$130,000.

Through investigations, officers from Jurong and Central Police Division established the man's identity and arrested him.

He was charged in court on July 18 with cheating, which carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, and a fine.

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.