Scammers are increasingly using Singpass-verified Carousell accounts to dupe victims, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and police investigations.
This trend has prompted authorities to push for stronger safeguards on the popular online marketplace.​
Rising Misuse of Singpass-Verified Accounts
Police found that scammers gained access to Singpass-verified Carousell accounts by phishing login details, paying users to hand over their accounts, or using stolen or purchased Singpass credentials.
However, the total number of reported scams on the platform fell by 36 per cent between April and June 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.​
New Verification Measures Set for 2026
Carousell will implement enhanced verification measures by 31 Jan 2026 to prevent misuse of verified accounts for scams. These updates include passkeys, biometric logins, and blacklisting Singpass credentials previously linked to scam accounts.
Accounts confirmed to have been relinquished to scammers will face suspension.​
Enforcement and Legislative Steps Considered
MHA is considering legislating new offences for users who deliberately hand over their Singpass-verified online accounts for criminal purposes. The police will pursue enforcement action against individuals found to be Singpass mules.
MHA will keep monitoring Carousell’s measures and can require additional actions if the situation does not improve.​
Technical Tools and Safety Programmes on Carousell
Carousell has developed artificial intelligence and data science tools that detect scams and block harmful content. The Buy button on Carousell lets users pick from a range of payment and delivery options for extra protection.
The Carousell Certified programme allows users to buy second-hand luxury goods and electronics that have been checked for quality and authenticity.​
Broader E-Commerce Scam Trends in Singapore
In the first half of 2025, there were 3,237 cases of e-commerce scams reported in Singapore, causing losses of over $7 million. E-commerce scams made up the second-highest number of scam reports, just behind phishing scams. Victims reported total losses of $17.5 million in 2024 alone, reported the Singapore Police Force.
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