Singaporeans are smart, right? We’re one of the most educated countries in the world.

Most, if not all of us are proficient in at least two languages. And Singapore’s going fast for the #SmartNation angle.

Yet at the same time, we’re being scammed out of our money left and right. Again, I ask, aren’t we supposed to be smart?

Well, it seems we’re not, at least when it comes to scams.

Woman Arrested For JJ Lin & NDP Tickets Scam

In Aug 2018, two very significant events happened: National Day and JJ Lin’s world tour concert in Singapore.

Correction: JJ Lin’s sold out concert in Singapore and NDP tickets which you can only get through balloting.

Which made JJ Lin hardcore fans and super-patriotic Singaporeans desperate to get their hands on said tickets. Even if they have to pay a higher price to unverified third parties.

On 16 Aug, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced that they’ve arrested a woman suspected of selling NDP tickets and JJ Lin concert tickets but didn’t deliver.

The victims made payment through bank transfers when they came across the listings of the tickets on Carousell.

But after that, they didn’t receive the tickets and couldn’t get in touch with the seller.

If she is convicted of cheating, she can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years jail time and fined as well.

Never Make Upfront Payment

So rule of the thumb: what should you do to avoid getting scammed?

First, if it’s too good to be true, it usually is.

And second, always try not to pay the whole amount before you get the goods. I mean, that’s how the saying 一手交钱一手交货 (exchange goods and money at the same time) came about.

Especially on Carousell, if the seller insists on getting the full amount first, chances are that person’s a scammer.

And even if they produce a screenshot of an identity card as assurance, don’t accept that because they might’ve stolen or picked that up somewhere.

Last but not least, if you really need to buy stuff online, it’s usually better to go sites (or apps) that keeps the money for you until the stuff is in your hands.

Then, they’ll release the money to the seller, but only after confirmation is sent by your side. No confirmation, no money for the seller.

Read Also: 8 Things S’poreans Shouldn’t Do to the Offerings During Hungry Ghost Festival, If Not…

Moral of the Story: Never Make Upfront Payment.

Okay, I know that I’ve been indirectly calling you guys dumb. But Singaporeans aren’t dumb. What we are, instead, is emotional and greedy.

Especially when we see a good deal, we want to snap it up because we’re FOMO or Fear Of Missing Out.

Like a cheap PlayStation.

Or when we’re so desperate that common sense disappears like my colleague’s imaginary girlfriend.

I mean, come on, it’s illegal to re-sell NDP tickets, people.

But always rein yourself in, because you know what’s the worst thing about getting scammed?

It’s usually items that you really want to get. So imagine the double whammy of not being able to get that item and losing money on top of it.

That’s enough to drive any nice Singaporean crazy, that’s for sure.

Check out this website for more information about scams in Singapore. Trust me, every secondary school CME should include lessons about this website.

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