Carousell Scams in Singapore: How to Avoid Fake Buyers and Sellers
A practical guide to the most common Carousell scams in Singapore, from fake payment screenshots to phishing links and overpriced drop-shipping. Learn how to buy and sell safely.
Carousell Scams in Singapore: How to Avoid Fake Buyers and Sellers
Carousell is Singapore's go-to marketplace for buying and selling everything from secondhand electronics to concert tickets. With millions of listings and a user-friendly app, it has replaced traditional classifieds entirely. But the platform's popularity also makes it fertile ground for scammers who prey on both buyers and sellers.
The Singapore Police Force regularly issues warnings about Carousell-related scams, which consistently rank among the top online scam categories in Singapore. Whether you are buying or selling, knowing the common tricks can save you from losing money.
Scams Targeting Buyers
1. Non-Delivery Scam
The most straightforward scam: you pay for an item that never arrives. The seller posts attractive listings at competitive prices, collects payment via PayNow or bank transfer, and then ghosts you. They may use stolen photos from legitimate listings to make their posts look genuine.
Warning signs: Price significantly below market value, newly created account with no reviews, insistence on immediate payment, unwillingness to meet in person.
How to protect yourself: Use Carousell Protection (in-app payment with buyer guarantee) whenever possible. For high-value items, insist on meeting in person at a safe location.
2. Counterfeit or Misrepresented Items
The seller posts photos of a genuine branded item but delivers a counterfeit or a completely different product. This is common with electronics, sneakers, luxury goods, and concert tickets.
Warning signs: Price too good to be true for branded items, seller avoids detailed photos or video, vague descriptions, refusal to meet for inspection before payment.
How to protect yourself: Ask for detailed photos including serial numbers and receipts. For electronics, request a video of the item being turned on. Meet in person to inspect before paying.
3. Phishing Links in Chat
A seller sends you a link claiming to be for "secure payment" or "delivery tracking." The link leads to a phishing page that harvests your banking credentials or Singpass login.
Warning signs: Any external link sent in Carousell chat, especially for payment or login. Legitimate Carousell transactions never require external payment links.
How to protect yourself: Never click links sent in Carousell chat. Use only the in-app payment features.
Scams Targeting Sellers
4. Fake PayNow Payment Screenshots
A buyer claims to have made a PayNow payment and sends you a screenshot of the "successful transfer." The screenshot is fabricated. You hand over the item believing you have been paid, but no money was ever transferred.
Warning signs: Buyer sends a screenshot instead of you checking your own bank app, pressure to hand over the item quickly.
How to protect yourself: Always verify payment in your own bank account or app. Never rely on screenshots from the buyer.
5. Overpayment and Refund Request
The buyer sends more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment may be from a stolen or compromised account. When the bank reverses the fraudulent payment, you lose the item, the "extra" money, and the refund you sent.
Warning signs: "Accidental" overpayment, urgent request to refund the difference, offer to pay extra for inconvenience.
How to protect yourself: If someone overpays, do not refund immediately. Wait for full clearance and contact your bank.
6. Shipping Address Scam
The buyer insists on delivery instead of meetup, provides a shipping address, and later claims the item never arrived. Without proof of delivery, you have no recourse.
Warning signs: Refusal to meet in person for high-value items, insistence on specific delivery methods without tracking.
How to protect yourself: For deliveries, always use tracked shipping with signature confirmation. Meet in person when possible.
Scams Affecting Both Buyers and Sellers
7. Account Takeover and Impersonation
Scammers hack or impersonate accounts with good reviews and transaction history. They use the trusted profile to scam new victims. You might think you are dealing with a reputable user, but the account has been compromised.
Warning signs: Sudden change in communication style, requests to transact outside the app, different phone number than previously used.
8. Ticket and Voucher Scams
Concert tickets, attraction passes, and gift vouchers are common scam items because they are hard to verify before the event. The seller provides a ticket code that has already been used or was never valid.
Warning signs: E-tickets without verifiable booking references, prices well below face value, sellers who cannot provide proof of purchase.
Carousell Safety Checklist
| Do | Do Not |
|---|---|
| Use Carousell Protection for payments | Pay via direct bank transfer to unknown accounts |
| Meet at MRT stations or police stations | Meet at isolated or private locations |
| Verify payment in your own bank app | Trust payment screenshots from buyers |
| Check seller/buyer reviews and account age | Ignore red flags because the deal looks good |
| Inspect items in person before paying | Pay full amount before seeing the item |
| Keep all communication in the Carousell app | Move to WhatsApp or Telegram for the deal |
What to Do If You Get Scammed on Carousell
- Report the user through the Carousell app immediately
- File a police report online or at the nearest Neighbourhood Police Centre
- Contact your bank if you shared payment credentials
- Preserve all evidence — screenshots of chats, listings, and payment records
- Check ScamAlert.sg for similar reported scams
Sharing Transaction Details Securely
When you do need to share payment details, addresses, or other personal information with a verified buyer or seller, avoid sending them in plain text on Carousell chat or WhatsApp. Use LOCK.PUB to create a password-protected link that auto-expires. Share the link in the chat and the password separately. After the transaction, the information disappears — no lingering sensitive data in your chat history.
The Bottom Line
Carousell is a fantastic marketplace, but it requires the same caution you would exercise in any transaction with strangers. The simplest rule: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Use Carousell Protection, meet in person when possible, verify payments in your own banking app, and never click external links. If you need to share sensitive details, use LOCK.PUB to keep them protected. Stay smart, stay safe.
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