Man orders counterfeit luxury goods online to resell as authentic products to Carousell users

A 29-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases after allegedly selling counterfeit goods that he passed off as authentic.

The police received several reports between March and August 2021, from victims who said they had been cheated into purchasing counterfeit luxury goods, such as handbags, from an online seller on Carousell.

"In the seller’s online advertisements, the goods were claimed to be authentic and was selling at a lower price," police added.

"Investigations revealed that the seller would allegedly order the goods from a foreign e-commerce platform after he had received payments from the victims.

"The seller would subsequently deliver the goods to the victims."

Through investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the online seller and arrested him on September 15.

Preliminary investigations revealed he is believed to be involved in other similar cases.

The man was charged in court on Friday with cheating, which carries an imprisonment term of up to ten years and a fine.

The police also advised members of the public to take the following precautions when making online purchases:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 Hotline 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.