Online scams leave victims $18,000 poorer
Some shoppers get duped into paying extra fees due to 'delivery problems'
Published on Apr 07, 2013
Online scammers have cheated Singaporeans of more than $18,000 in just three months, adding a new twist by squeezing victims even more after claiming delivery problems. -- ST POSED PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
By Jalelah Abu Baker
Online scammers have cheated Singaporeans of more than $18,000 in just three months, adding a new twist by squeezing victims even more after claiming delivery problems.
First, they would offer cheap mobile phones and tablet smartphones on free classified sites such as www.gumtree.com.sg and www.locanto.sg
After shoppers have transferred the money through inter-bank transfers or Western Union to an overseas account, they would then receive an e-mail message asking for more money.
The scammers would claim that the items had been wrongly delivered to Malaysia or that they were stuck at the Singapore Customs, going so far as to provide a "seizure notice" as proof.
Get the full story from The Straits Times.
