25YO Arrested for Furniture Scam on Carousell & Other Scam Cases

By
Shawn Ambrose
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If you need something in life, Carousell will probably have it.

In fact, if a product can legally be sold, be it an oximeter, Filet-O-Fish, bubble tea, or just a bag of sugar, it’s probably already listed on Carousell.

Since the goods there are often used, and owners are eager to get rid of them, prices are often low, which is why buyers go there in the first place.

The only problem is that because you don’t actually know who’s selling the product to you, you can’t be sure that they’re trustworthy.

So, they may end up delivering a subpar Filet-O-Fish, or not deliver that furniture set that you paid good money for.

25YO Arrested for Furniture Scam on Carousell & Other Scam Cases

On 9 May this year, a buyer on Carousell lodged a report with the police alleging that a seller on the platform had failed to deliver a furniture set that had been fully paid for.

Everything seemed fine and dandy until the buyer made the payment, as the seller suddenly became uncontactable.

The payment was made through a bank transfer.

Fortunately, officers from the Bedok Police Division managed to establish the identity of the man and arrested him yesterday (12 Aug) for his suspected involvement in the scam.

Could Face 10 Years in Jail

Initial investigations show that the 25-year-old man has been involved in several other similar e-commerce scam cases.

He is expected to be charged in court today.

If found guilty, he could be imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined.

Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim

In announcing the arrest, the police also provided tips on how to avoid falling prey to such scams.

These include:

  • Only buy products from authorised or reputable sellers, especially for expensive items
  • Avoid making advance payments – choose a mode of payment where money is only transferred to the seller once the purchased product has been delivered
  • Be wary of sellers who attempt to communicate directly through WhatsApp or WeChat to offer a ‘faster’ or ‘better’ deal, as they’ll likely ask for a direct bank transfer

To gain your trust, they may even show you a copy of their NRIC, driver’s licence, or use a local bank account in the deal, the police said.

Watch this video to the end to avoid becoming a victim of such scams:

Over 13 Complaints Made Against a Mattress Retailer at Ubi Road for Unfulfilled Orders

Multiple complaints were made against another furniture retailer recently for unfulfilled orders as well.

The Consumer Association of Singapore (Case) said that it has received 13 complaints against The Mattress Specialist since 1 June, as well as The Furnishing Specialist, a company that appears to be linked to it.

The complainants claimed that their orders failed to arrive on the scheduled delivery date, or that delivery was repeatedly postponed.

Six customers have lodged police reports against the company, while others intend to take the retailer to court.

Some customers are hoping to get refunds, while others just want their beds and mattresses delivered.

Considering that they’re called “The Mattress Specialist”, I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]