The Police Headquarters has warned the general public about a scam involving the online sale of construction materials, with individuals allegedly using social media platforms to obtain money from unsuspecting customers.

According to police, the scammers advertise asbestos roofing sheets, cement and other construction materials at prices significantly lower than prevailing market rates and use the advertisements to attract orders.

After receiving an order, the scammers reportedly contact a genuine building materials dealer in the customer’s area and arrange for the goods to be delivered to the customer’s address.

The fraudsters then allegedly transfer the payment for the order into the dealer’s bank account, creating the impression that the transaction is legitimate.

However, when the delivery arrives and the driver requests the customer for payment, the customer realises that they have been targeted by a scam.

Police said several complaints relating to similar incidents have been received and urged the general public to exercise caution when purchasing construction materials through social media.

The Police headquarters has particularly warned the public to verify the identity of sellers and the authenticity of online advertisements before placing orders or making payments, especially when goods are offered at unusually low prices.