Man arrested for scams involving sale of branded shoes: At least 15 victims cheated of over $50k

A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly cheating more than 15 victims of over $50,000 in a series of scams involving the sale of branded shoes.

The police received several reports in May 2021, from victims who were purportedly cheated by an online seller selling limited edition branded shoes at a discounted price on Carousell.

After payments were made by the victims via bank transfers and PayNow or Paylah, the seller purportedly did not deliver the items.

Through investigations and close collaboration with Carousell, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the man's identity and arrested him on Wednesday (May 19).

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to have cheated more than 15 victims of more than $50,000," police added.

The man will be charged in court on Friday with cheating, which is punishable with a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The police said they take a serious view of those who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

They also advised members of the public to be very careful when making online purchases and to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

• 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 a NRIC or driver’s licence 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 authorised sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.

For more information on scams, you may 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.