Carousell user who 'sold' Taylor Swift concert tickets and went MIA arrested: Victims lost over $24k

A 29-year-old woman was arrested on March 11 after she allegedly advertised Taylor Swift concert tickets for sale but failed to deliver them upon receiving payment.

The police said they received several reports between March 3 and March 7 from victims who were purportedly cheated by the Carousell user.

"Upon receiving the payments via PayNow or bank transfer, she failed to deliver the concert tickets and became uncontactable," police added.

Through follow up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the woman's identity and arrested her.

Preliminary investigations revealed that she is believed to be involved in other similar reports with losses amounting to more than $24,000.

The woman will be charged in court on March 12 with the offence of cheating, which carries a jail term of up to ten years and a fine.

At least 334 fans were scammed out of more than $213,000 in January and February after trying to score tickets to Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour in Singapore, a Stomp article reported earlier this month.

Members of the public are advised to take the following precautions when making online purchases:

1. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable sources, especially for high-value items.

2. Opt for buyer protection by using in-built payment options that release payment to the seller only upon delivery. Whenever possible, avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller as this method does not offer any protection.

3. Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or WeChat by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. They may also use a local bank account or provide a copy of a NRIC/driver’s license to make you believe that they are genuine sellers. Do not fall for it!

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam helpline at 1800-722-6688.

Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.