Fraud cases on the e-commerce platform Shopee continue to rise. According to a statement released by the Singapore Police Force, there were at least 179 Shopee-related fraud cases in 2024, resulting in total losses exceeding S$399,000.
The police noted that these cases mainly involved the false sale of high-value goods such as electronics and gold. Fraudsters attract buyers through Shopee live streams and product listings, then guide victims to complete transactions on platforms outside of Shopee, such as through Telegram or WhatsApp contacts.
Sometimes, victims are also pulled into Telegram groups controlled by scammers, where so-called "buyers" claim to have successfully received their goods, further gaining the victims' trust.
Once victims make payments via PayNow or bank transfer, they are informed that the goods have been "detained by customs" and additional fees are required, ultimately not receiving the goods, and realizing they have been scammed only after the seller disappears or their account is closed by Shopee.
To prevent similar cases, the police remind the public to always complete transactions within the Shopee platform. Shopee's payment mechanism holds the payment until the buyer confirms receipt of the goods, thus protecting the buyer's interests.
The police urge the public to remain vigilant and not to trust transaction requests from external platforms, to collectively guard against the harm of e-commerce fraud.
