Man files police report after fake web article claims he was arrested for online vigilantism
Published on Nov 11, 2014 8:53 PM
By Cheryl Wee
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SINGAPORE - A spoof news report claiming that the man behind online satirical group SMRT Ltd (Feedback) has been arrested went viral on social media earlier this week.
The fake online article, headlined "Man behind satire page, SMRT Ltd (Feedback) arrested; links to WikiLeaks confirmed", featured a photograph of Mr Geoffrey See, the managing director of a non-profit organisation. Under the photo is a caption that says that "the man behind SMRT Ltd (Feedback), a satirical and online vigilante Facebook group, was arrested in a police raid at Arab Street". The online article mimicked the appearance of The Straits Times website. It was taken down on Tuesday afternoon.
SMRT Ltd (Feedback) recently engaged in online vigilantism against Mr Jover Chew, the owner of a Sim Lim Square mobile-phone shop which has been accused of unscrupulous sales tactics. The group published on its Facebook page Mr Chew's personal and business information.
The fake report about Mr See, 29, has caused much embarrassment and distress, he told The Straits Times. He also stressed that he is not part of SMRT Ltd (Feedback) and has no links to WikiLeaks. His company, Choson Exchange, runs economics, business and legal training programmes in North Korea. Mr See has filed a police report, and the police said that they are looking into the matter.
