Police arrested two women aged 44 and 47 years old yesterday evening who are believed to be involved in a series of rental scams.

On 5 Apr 2010 , a 40 year-old male foreigner reported to the Police that he had been cheated a sum of $3,500/- by 2 female suspects. Upon receipt of the report, officers from Clementi Police Division conducted extensive enquiries to trace the two suspects. However, the suspects were elusive as they had no fixed place of abode. On 19 Apr 2010 at about 6.45 pm , the officers managed to trace the suspects to a hotel in Joo Chiat and arrested them.

Preliminary investigations revealed that since Feb 2010, the suspects had fraudulently obtained an unoccupied flat at Dover Rd and advertised it for rent via the internet and by distributing flyers. Unsuspecting tenants who were mainly foreigners in search of rental flats at Dover Road responded to the advertisement and paid the suspects advance rental payments and deposits. The suspects would then become uncontactable after receiving the money. The suspects are believed to be involved in at least six cases of such rental scams, and had cheated victims of a sum amounting to about $20,000/- in total.

Both the suspects will be produced in Court on 21 Apr 2010 for the offence of Cheating. The offence carries punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall be liable to fine.

Commander of Clementi Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) of Police Ng Yeow Boon commended his officers for their good investigative work resulting in the successful arrest of the suspects.