The article did say the police were investigating it under the Penal Code.

420. Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

Whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived, whether, or not the deception practised was the sole or main inducement, to deliver any property to any person, or to make, alter, or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything which is signed or sealed, and which is capable of being converted into a valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year and not more than ten years and with whipping, and shall also be liable to fine.