Man, 31, & woman, 30, allegedly pose as tourists who needed help, cheat victim of S$800 with fake gold ring at Joo Koon

Two Chinese nationals, a 31-year-old man and 30-year-old woman, allegedly approached a person at a supermarket in Joo Koon by pretending to be tourists who needed cash for a hotel payment as their bank card was "malfunctioning".

Both were arrested within 24 hours after the victim made a police report.

The victim alleged that they cheated him of S$800, with the use of a fake bank transfer receipt and counterfeit gold ring, according to a police news release.

Claimed to be tourists who needed cash

Police said that they received a report from the victim on Sep. 4 at about 2:25pm.

Preliminary investigations showed that on Sep. 3, the day before, the pair had approached the victim at the main entrance of supermarket along Joo Koon Circle.

They claimed to be tourists from Hong Kong who faced "financial difficulties" as their bank card was not working.

The 31-year-old man then asked the victim for S$800 in cash to fulfil an urgent hotel payment.

He allegedly presented a fabricated bank transfer receipt as proof of payment in exchange for the cash and also passed the victim a "gold ring" which he claimed was worth RM11,980 (about S$3,656), to establish his credibility.

The victim withdrew the cash and gave it to the man.

However, he later realised that something was amiss when no money was sent to his account.

He confirmed with his bank that the transfer never happened and was told at a pawn shop that the ring was a counterfeit.

15 counterfeit gold rings found during arrest

Through follow-up investigations, officers from Tanglin Police Division identified the duo and arrested them within 24 hours of the report.

Police also seized 15 identical counterfeit gold rings, S$1,578 in cash and mobile phones with fabricated transaction receipts as evidence.

The duo will be charged in court on Sep. 6 with cheating. If found guilty, they could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

Police advised members of the public to be cautious when approached by strangers seeking financial assistance.

Top image from SPF