Woman to be charged for suspected involvement in online hotel booking scams; victims lost over S$1.3 million

SINGAPORE: A 34-year-old woman will be charged on Friday (Aug 2) for her suspected involvement in e-commerce scams involving hotel room package bookings, the police said on Thursday.
From mid-December 2021 to December 2022, the police received several reports from victims who were purportedly cheated by a seller offering discounted hotel room booking packages via a social media platform.
“After payments were made by the victims through bank transfers and PayNow, they allegedly failed to receive the bookings,” said the police, adding that the booking packages for a number of popular hotels in Singapore.
Police officers from the Anti-Scam Command subsequently identified the woman and arrested her for the offence of cheating.
Investigations have revealed she is suspected to be involved in more than 900 non-fulfilment of hotel room package bookings, with victims suffering financial losses amounting to more than S$1.3 million (US$970,000).
If found guilty of cheating, the woman may be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
The police warned they take a serious view against any person who may be involved in scams and frauds, adding that perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.