Woman Arrested For A Series Of Rental Scams

The Police have arrested a 41-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a series of rental scams.

Between May and August 2024, the Police receive reports from several victims who were purportedly cheated after responding to online posts advertising a residential unit for rent. After the victims agreed on a rental arrangement and paid the deposit via bank transfer, the woman allegedly became uncontactable.

Through follow-up investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on 22 August 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that she is believed to be involved in 13 similar cases of rental scams with losses amounting to more than $47,000. Two handphones, four bank cards, two thumb drives and a notebook with entries of transactions were seized as case exhibits.

The woman will be charged in court on 23 August 2024 with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

Members of the public are advised to adopt the following measures to avoid falling prey to rental scams:

Ensure that the person you deal with is a rightful owner of the unit or an accredited real estate agent by verifying their details and contact number with the agency; and

Ask to visit the unit and verify with the owner if the rental offer exists and is genuine.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline 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/i-witness.