Man to be charged for alleged rent deposit scams involving over S$50,000

A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested by the police for his suspected involvement in a series of rental scams, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Tuesday (Mar 15).

According to preliminary investigations, the man may be involved in 24 similar cases of rental scams with losses amounting to more than S$54,700, the SPF said.

The SPF had, between January and March 2022, received reports from several victims of rental scams. The victims had responded to online advertisements offering rental of residential units, but were unable to contact the man after they paid the deposit via bank transfer.

The man, arrested on Mar 14, will be charged in court on Wednesday with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term which may extend up to 10 years and a fine.

To avoid falling prey to scams, the SPF advises members of the public to ensure that they are dealing with the rightful owner of the unit or an accredited real estate agent by verifying their details and contact number with the agency. They should also ask to visit the unit and verify with the owner if the rental offer exists and is genuine.

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