SINGAPORE: The 37-year-old man has been arrested on September 6 for allegedly cheating a target of S$2, six hundred (RM8, 324) inside a scam where he advertised a Rolex watch for sale on ecommerce site Carousell.
Police said the victim made a written report on Sept two, saying he had paid S$2, 600 (RM8, 324) as deposit for the watch by means of bank transfer.
But after the payment, the seller failed to provide the watch plus delayed refunding the deposit.
Officers from Bedok Law enforcement Division managed to set up the identity from the seller and arrested him on September 6.
In the event that found guilty of infidelity, the man faces a jail term as high as 10 years and a great.
The police suggest members of the public to purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable resources, especially for high-value products.
“If the cost is too good to become true, it probably is, ” they added.
People should also opt for purchaser protection by using built-in payment options that will release payment to the seller only on delivery.
Whenever you can, they should avoid making advance payment or direct bank transfer to the seller.
Police said scammers could entice customers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or even WeChat, by providing a better or quicker deal if financial institution transfer payments are created directly to them.
To make the buyer believe that they are genuine retailers, scammers may also work with a local bank account or provide a copy of an NRIC or a driver’s licence. – The particular Straits Times (Singapore)/Asia News Network