iceage
12-02-2016, 05:54 PM
Credit-for-sex scam went up by 1,723 per cent - from 66 cases in 2014 to 1,203 cases last year.
The scams involve men being asked by seemingly attractive women on social media platforms to buy gift cards and online credits for sexual services, which the men do not get.
The total amount cheated was about $2.9 million, with the largest amount at about $74,000.
Internet love scams went up by 93 per cent, and total sum cheated was about $12 million.
Police said credit-for-sex scams are carried out by foreign syndicates. The victims are mostly men, aged between 20 and 39.
Victims of Internet love scams are mostly women, and aged between 30 and 60.
In such cases, money is usually not recovered.
The police added that it has worked with its foreign counterparts to crackdown on syndicates targeting Singaporeans. In particular, it worked with the China authorities in an eight-month crime investigation to crack down on a syndicate in China.
In the first half of 2015, it received some 627 police reports for Alipay credit-for-sex scams, resulting in a loss of $1.6 million.
They arrested 43 people after the crackdown, resulting in a drop in the number of cases.
It has also worked with Interpol and the Philippines police in the past to deal with cyber extortion cases.
Mr David Chew, director for Commercial Affairs Department, said: "Singapore is a target because we have a wonderful infrastructure for the Internet.
"As online fraud transcends national boundaries, the Police have been working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to take action against overseas syndicates.
"Similarly, the Police will also investigate and prosecute local residents who are found to be either perpetrating an online scam or facilitating foreign syndicates in their criminal activities."
He added that Singaporeans should also take steps to protect themselves against online crime.
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The scams involve men being asked by seemingly attractive women on social media platforms to buy gift cards and online credits for sexual services, which the men do not get.
The total amount cheated was about $2.9 million, with the largest amount at about $74,000.
Internet love scams went up by 93 per cent, and total sum cheated was about $12 million.
Police said credit-for-sex scams are carried out by foreign syndicates. The victims are mostly men, aged between 20 and 39.
Victims of Internet love scams are mostly women, and aged between 30 and 60.
In such cases, money is usually not recovered.
The police added that it has worked with its foreign counterparts to crackdown on syndicates targeting Singaporeans. In particular, it worked with the China authorities in an eight-month crime investigation to crack down on a syndicate in China.
In the first half of 2015, it received some 627 police reports for Alipay credit-for-sex scams, resulting in a loss of $1.6 million.
They arrested 43 people after the crackdown, resulting in a drop in the number of cases.
It has also worked with Interpol and the Philippines police in the past to deal with cyber extortion cases.
Mr David Chew, director for Commercial Affairs Department, said: "Singapore is a target because we have a wonderful infrastructure for the Internet.
"As online fraud transcends national boundaries, the Police have been working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to take action against overseas syndicates.
"Similarly, the Police will also investigate and prosecute local residents who are found to be either perpetrating an online scam or facilitating foreign syndicates in their criminal activities."
He added that Singaporeans should also take steps to protect themselves against online crime.
9566