Man arrested after victims pay him for baby products, EZ-Link charms but get nothing

A 29-year-old man was arrested on Monday (Feb 25) for his involvement in a series of e-commerce scams, the police said in a statement.

In February, the police received several reports from victims who had purchased various products listed on Carousell including baby care products, EZ-link charms and TV set-up boxes.

After making payment via bank transfers, the victims did not receive their purchases and were unable to contact the seller.

The man was arrested after officers from the Commercial Affairs Department conducted follow-up investigations and established his identity.

He is believed to be involved in at least 30 cases of e-commerce scams amounting to a total of $4,500.

The man will be charged in court on Feb 27 with cheating and may face up to 10 years' jail, and a fine.

The police advise members of the public who shop online to take the following precautions:

• 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 advance 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 sellers 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; and

• 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