On 17 December 2008, 39-year-old Lin Shih-Tien and 22-year-old Fan Jilin were each sentenced to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to five charges under Section 44(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act Cap 65A.

Both suspects were arrested by Police on 14 October 2008 for a series of cheating cases using the kidnap hoax scam.

Police urge members of the public to be wary of such scams, including the other variations such as the lottery or lucky draw telephone scams. More details of such scam tactics and advisories can be found in the Singapore Police Force website at www.spf.gov.sg or the Commercial Affairs Department website at www.cad.gov.sg.