Credits-for-sex scam victims cheated of $1.25 million

SINGAPORE - At least 500 credits-for-sex scams have been reported to the police in the first five months of 2015, with over S$1.25 million being cheated from victims.

The police revealed these figures today, and added that a 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday (June 16) in relation to such a scam.

The scam involves females befriending male victims through social media platforms such as Wechat and then asking them to buy purchase cards or online shopping credits in exchange for a meet-up, date or the promise of sexual service.

Victims will usually be asked to buy the cards through AXS machines and send images of the receipts together with PIN numbers to designated email accounts for them to claim the credits. Sometimes, other members of the syndicates will contact the victims and ask for further purchases of online shopping credits.

In June 2015, police received reports on a new variant of the scam. Victims were asked to hand over their ATM cards and reveal the PIN numbers before they could meet the females.

They were instructed to leave their ATM cards at certain locations in public areas and were told the cards would be returned after meeting the females. These cards were collected by unknown persons and the monies in the accounts linked to the ATM cards were pilfered. In some instances, these accounts were used to receive funds from other victims of crime.

The 22-year-old man will be charged in court for cheating related offences on June 18 at 2.30 pm.

grongloh@sph.com.sg