G
General Veers
Guest
Apr 21, 2010
2 women held for rental scam
<!-- by line --> By Lin Yingxin <== FTrash
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> TWO women believed to be involved in a series of rental scams were arrested on Tuesday evening. Police received a report on April 5 that a 40-year-old male foreigner had been cheated of $3,500 by two female suspects. Officers from Clementi Police Division conducted extensive enquiries to trace the suspects. However, the suspects were elusive as they had no fixed place of residence. On Monday, at about 6.45 pm, the officers finally tracked the suspects to a hotel in Joo Chiat and arrested them.
Preliminary investigations revealed that since February, the suspects, aged 44 and 47 years, had been advertising a fraudulently obtained unoccupied flat at Dover Rd for rental, via the internet and the distribution of flyers. Unsuspecting victims, who were mainly foreigners, responded to the advertisement and paid the suspects advance rental fees and deposits. The suspects then became uncontactable. They are believed to be involved in at least six cases of such rental scams, cheating victims of about $20,000 in total. Both suspects will be charged with the offence of cheating, and can be jailed up to 10 years and fined, if convicted.
