SINGAPORE – The number of online scams in the first half of this year has increased compared to the same period in 2015, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Sept 20.
From January to June, a total of 1,145 cases of cheating involving e-commerce were reported, a 13.4 per cent increase from last year.
About seven out of 10 of these scams were carried out via Carousell, Gumtree and Facebook, the police added.
The victims would usually be tricked into thinking that they were buying items such as admission tickets to local attractions, concert tickets and mobile phones.
In most cases, the scammers would ask victims for advanced payment to be transferred to a local bank account. They items would not be delivered and the seller usually becomes uncontactable after the money is transferred.
In one case, a scammer even sold fake tickets to a Jay Chou concert to his customers. The victims only realised they had been scammed when they were denied entry into the venue.
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In an advisory, the police said that online shoppers should take up these precautionary measures:
– Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction, find out how the online site safeguards your interest or can help you resolve disputes;
– Whenever possible, pay only on delivery.
– If advanced payments are required, use shopping platforms that only release your payment to the seller upon your receipt of the item; and
– 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.
www.scamalert.sg
ljessica@sph.com.sg
