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Tag: scam

  • Woman In Deal To Rent Out Car Cheated, Landed With $17,000 Repair Bill

    Woman In Deal To Rent Out Car Cheated, Landed With $17,000 Repair Bill

    A customer service executive who hoped to earn extra cash by renting out her car told The Straits Times yesterday how she believes she fell victim to a scam after she ended up with a $17,000 repair bill.

    Madam M. Lee advertised her Volkswagen Golf on the classifieds website Gumtree in January and, within a day, she signed a contract to rent it out for $1,700 a month through a company called Elites Elegance Car Leasing.

    The contract was due to run until December but the company stopped paying her in April.

    The following month, the 29-year-old – who declined to give her full name – discovered the company was not registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

    She also found out her car had been in an accident in which the front section had been smashed in. It is now in a workshop needing repairs costing more than $17,000.

    It then transpired the man she had signed the contract with had given her a false name – and had been involved in similar cases in the past.

    He has promised to pay $13,500 towards the repairs but Madam Lee said: “He said he would pay with an initial $2,000 deposit and subsequent instalments of $800. But I have not gotten any money yet.”

    Madam Lee made a police report last month. So far, she has paid $7,000 towards the repairs and the car is still at the garage.

    Netizens have posted about similar incidents on social media and three have contacted Madam Lee to tell her about their experiences.

    In 2009, a man conned 16 victims out of about $134,000 by renting cars from them and then not paying them. He then rented out their vehicles to others and pocketed their payments.

    According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), private car owners are not allowed to rent out their cars through rental companies.

    However, they can do so through the LTA’s private car rental scheme which has certain requirements. For example, the car must be registered under the name of the private individual and have adequate insurance coverage.

    Madam Lee said: “I did not know about the regulations until I felt something was not right. If I had known this would happen, I would not have decided to rent it out.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • ‘Credits for Sex’ Scam Victims Lose $1.25 Million From January To May

    ‘Credits for Sex’ Scam Victims Lose $1.25 Million From January To May

    The warnings to stay sharp against cybercheating appear to have fallen on deaf ears for some, as men have been cheated of more than S$1.25 million in sex scams in the first five months of the year.

    After receiving at least 500 reports on “credits for sex” scams, the police have arrested a 22-year-old connected to such scams. The suspect will be charged in court with cheating-related offences today.

    The scams involved women befriending male victims through social media platforms such as WeChat, and offering dates or sexual services in exchange for online shopping credits, said the police in a media release yesterday.

    The scammers would typically ask the victims to purchase cards from AXS machines, and send images of the receipts together with the personal identification numbers (PINs) for the cards to designated email accounts for them to claim the credits. In some cases, other members of the syndicates would contact the victims and ask them to make more purchases.

    Earlier this month, a variation of the scam emerged: Victims were asked to hand over their ATM cards and their PINs before they could meet the women. They were instructed to leave their ATM cards at public locations, and told that their cards would be returned to them after they met the women.

    The cards were then collected by unknown persons and the monies in the accounts linked to the cards were pilfered. On some occasions, these accounts were used to receive funds from other victims of crime.

    As more cases were reported, the police issued warnings. Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) sent an SMS alert earlier this month to residents urging vigilance against such scams. Between January and April, 373 victims fell for the scam and the sum cheated totalled S$812,000, with one of the victims made S$43,137 poorer, they said.

    Cybercheating cases have been an area of concern in recent years, with a three-fold jump in the number of such cases between 2009 and last year. E-commerce cheating or extortion on cyberspace crimes continued to rise from 510 cases in 2013 to 1,659 cases last year.

    Most of the cases were shoppers who were duped into making multiple payments for purported online bargains. Crooks would put up advertisements for products at low prices but ask for payments repeatedly on the pretext that the goods would be delivered eventually. Internet scams also emerged in the form of fake gift cards or virtual credits being peddled online.

    Responding to TODAY’s queries about the scams flagged by the Choa Chu Kang NPC, a police spokesperson said preliminary investigations show that the latest credits-for-sex scam appeared to originate from overseas, and the police are working with its foreign counterparts to trace the perpetrators.

    Members of the public are advised to be wary of strangers they befriend online, as well as avoid providing personal details about themselves when engaging other Internet users. They are also advised not to share their payment receipts containing details such as PINs with anyone.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • PRC Girls Alleging Molest To Blackmail Singaporean Men For Compensation

    PRC Girls Alleging Molest To Blackmail Singaporean Men For Compensation

    Got This from a friend.

    The email below has been circulating around cyberspace.

    Please forward this to all your male Singaporean loved ones and friends. This is something that actually happened to me and I feel that it needs to be shared. I believe my experience will help your male loved one stay out of trouble.

    On the morning of 18th February at about 9.50 am I was standing at Coffee Bean (Novena Square) counter, ordering my usual cup of mocha latte before heading for the office.

    Behind me was a row of leather cushions that the mall has provided. In the corner of my eyes, I noticed a young Chinese lady with an umbrella and a Cold Storage plastic bag, looking really nervous, glancing around every now and then.

    The lady had shoulder length hair tied up neatly in a pony tail and looked pretty plain, wearing just a normal t-shirt and jeans – nothing too revealing. She was about mid 20s to early 30s and pretty pleasant looking I must say. But her eyes were scary when she stared intently at me for a short moment I did not pay much attention to her as I thought she was waiting for the slimming centre to open. I carried on my business as usual, glancing through the Today newspaper.

    As I made my way towards the direction of Banquet coffee shop, she stood up and walked towards my direction. What happened next caught me completely by surprise.
    The lady stopped directly in front me of, stared at me and suddenly screamed “Why you touch me?” Only then did I realise from her unmistakable accent that she is from China. I said “Sorry? What are you talking about?” I was more in shock then angry. The first thing that came to my mind was, is this some woman that I accidentally brushed on the train this morning?

    She did not bother to explain but kept on screaming and pointing her index finger at me “Why you touch me!” about 4 or 5 times. She then squatted, covering her face and cried, crying out over and over again that I had touched her. I was really lost. There were some people walking past me and I felt like a criminal standing there, while people gave me this disgusted look. All the while I was trying to talk to the China lady but she remained in a squatted position, covering her face and crying.

    A t this point of time, a Malay man in light blue coloured uniform walked over from Banquet. Seeing the situation he asked me what happened. The lady stood up and said that I had “touched” her. She then told the Malay man that I needed to give her $500 to “see doctor” or else she would report me to the Chinese Embassy. She took out her hand phone and took several photos of me.

    The Malay man then said, “Bro, I think we better call the police”.

    At this point of time, I had gotten over my shock and anger was slowly taking over. I nodded to the Malay man in agreement. I took out my hand phone too. But instead of taking her photo, I dialled 999 immediately. “I am calling the police myself. Let them settle the matter”. I said calmly to the both of them. At this point of time, she picked up her plastic bag and umbrella, and swiftly left towards the direction of Tan Tock Seng hospital – even before my call could connect!

    We were left there puzzled. Some how I was relieved that it was over and did not want to proceed with the call. The Malay man asked me if I was ok. All I said was “Thanks”. He patted my shoulder and walked away towards the direction of Coffee Bean. Several patrons inside banquet were already witnessing the commotion. I just wanted to get out of there.

    In case something like this happens to you or your loved ones, do not make the same mistake I did, trying to console the woman. Immediately take out your hand phone, take a photo of her and call the police. Please help to spread this around to our Singaporean husbands, sons, brothers and friends.

    Please, my dear Singaporeans, look around you, what has happened to our country? Where have all these pests come from? Think about your loved ones and your other Singaporean friends. Forward this story and make sure that they know what to do when the same thing happens to them.

    DO NOT start arguing or reasoning with her. Just take out your mobile & call police

    My friend is a retired businessman in his early 60 and what he encountered last Saturday in a high end dining/shopping area could also happen to anyone of us.

    My friend accompanied his wife to a bank in Holland Village to do some banking transaction. While his wife was being served by the personal banking executive, he decided to go and do some window-shopping around the area. While admiring the display, suddenly, out of nowhere, a young about 20+ girl pushes him aside and shouted at him, accusing my friend of molesting her. She then asked my friend to compensate her for her “ordeal” – loss of face.

    My friend being a gentleman was stunned and at a loss for word s for a moment because he really never did anything to her. He just stood there and did not know what to do. His mind went blank.

    Luckily, a Caucasian man nearby saw all that and told the PRC girl to stop her nuisance (unsure whether she understood English) and took out his mobile and said he wanted to call the police. The PRC girl quickly walked away joining the other shoppers.

    Should any man become one of the victims, please stay calm. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT start arguing or reasoning with her. If you try to reason with her, then you have fallen into her trap. In general, people will most likely sympathise and believe a female as a victim. You will end up bending to her demands.

    Just take out your mobile phone or ask someone (if you have no mobile) to call the police, let the law enforcement authority deal with her. For sure, all this PRC girls dare not face the justice of the law because most of them are over-stayers.

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

  • Vehicle SJT1444Y Is Not Registered With Uber

    Vehicle SJT1444Y Is Not Registered With Uber

    Ride-booking service Uber said on Monday that the driver involved in an alleged case of overcharging – which is going viral online – is not one of theirs.

    This is in response to a Facebook account by a passenger, who said he was offered a ride in a private Honda car and ended up paying $97 for a trip from Beach Road to Yio Chu Kang.

    Uber said that the car, with a licence plate SJT 1444Y, was not registered with the company, and it has filed a police report over the incident.

    Mr Joverst Lee, 22, who made the Facebook post, told The Straits Times that he was waiting for a taxi along Beach Road on Sunday afternoon, when he was approached by a driver who claimed to be from Uber.

    Mr Lee, who was with his wife, 21, and his daughter, 3, and one-month-old son, said he was told there would be a flat rate of $3.90 along with a $0.70 charge for every kilometre.

    However, Mr Lee said he was in for a rude shock when during the journey, he noticed that the fare – which was being displayed on a phone app – had amounted to $50.

    Mr Lee said they were on the Central Expressway then, and he told the driver to drop them off at the nearest exit, which was at Yio Chu Kang, instead of going directly to his home in Woodlands.

    The final bill amounted to $97, with the driver changing his tune to say that the charge was $8 per kilometre instead.

    Mr Lee, who works in the construction industry, said he was concerned with the safety of his family then. “I didn’t want to do anything harsh, I paid him the money and just go,” he added.

    Mr Lee’s story has gone viral on Facebook, being shared more than 9,600 times as of 11pm on Monday, with over 1,700 likes.

    An Uber spokesman said this is the first case of its kind here, and that all of its rides are booked through the Uber app and the company does not allow street hails.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Be Careful Of This PRC Scamming Customers At NTUC

    Be Careful Of This PRC Scamming Customers At NTUC

    UPDATE:

    Miss Norsiah has since updated her facebook page to explain that NTUC has confirmed that there is no 30c charge on the exchange of notes to coins but they are unable to do anything against the PRC woman involved.

    They explained that their cameras aren’t good enough and they have no audio to verify what happened:

    NTUC called………that staff will b closely monitored n observed only…………………….because their camera cannot zoom in & see the $1.70 (new $1 coin, new 50cents coin 20cents coin) & also no voice recorder to record conversation…that staff will b send for conversational english coz she claims she dont understand wat im saying!!!

    BUT surprisingly she knows how 2 take my $2 & return me $1.70 when i ask her for coin exchange & surprisingly too, she knows how 2 use NTUC name to say NTUC now charge 4 coins exchange!!! I guess she doesnt know the meaning of “receipt” dats y when i ask her receipt for 30cents (3times) she doesnt know……so sad……….

    “receipt” i think the basic she need to know if in sales line….funny…..dont understand receipt but know how to say “FORGET” to return my 30cents……..so, in conclusion, they will still keep that staff!!

    So, NTUC shoppers, take note that as confirmed by NTUC, no 30cents will be charge for coins exchange.

    So NTUC shoppers, beware of this desperado, money-faced china-lai woman!!

    —-

    Dear TRS,

    Please be careful about this PRC cheat at NTUC and remind your readers to be vigilant of other, similar scams.

    I saw this photo being shared online showing that a woman, apparently a PRC, was trying to scam customers at NTUC.

    When one lady approached to change her $2 note for coins so she could get a trolley, the PRC staff at the customer service counter gave her $1.70 and claimed that there was a 30c charge for exchanging.

    When the woman came back a short while later asking for a receipt, the PRC woman act blur and then say she ‘forgot’ to give her 30c.

    How can NTUC allow such foreign staff with no integrity come here and essentially try and steal money?

    Please be careful of such scams. Even though the money might be small, if this type of scam is allowed to happen we are letting our image as a safe and law abiding country go down the drain.

    MM

    TRS Contributor

     

    Source: www.therealsingapore.com