Three Common Traps on Carousell in 2026 ｜ Guide to Avoiding Phishing Links, Bounced-cheque Parties and Fake Platform Protection - Anti-Deception Coordination Centre(ADCC)

Anti-Deception Coordination Centre Search Website Home Latest Scam Alerts 🚨 Fraudulent Investment Platform "Anti-Scam Helpline 18222" Anti Scam Event Youth No Scam Protection Hub Campus Anti-Scam Promotional Materials News, Statistics and Interview About Us Latest Scam Alerts Three Common Traps on Carousell in 2026 ｜ Guide to Avoiding Phishing Links, Bounced-cheque Parties and Fake Platform Protection 2026-05-04 The police recorded over 2 950 cases of online shopping scam from January to March 2026.  Such cases accounted for almost 30% of all scams, and many of them involved second-hand trading platforms such as Carousell.  If sellers are not cautious, they may lose several thousand or even several hundred thousand dollars. Here is a compilation of the tricks used by the three common traps on Carousell.  It includes detailed steps taken by scammers and prevention tips to help you buy or sell second-hand goods safely.   Fake payment confirmation email (phishing link scam) Defaulting trick: Pose as buyers or the customer service of the platform to send “payment confirmation emails” similar to official ones. Insert phishing links (posing as those of Carousell or bank websites) in the emails Lure you to clink on such links and enter online banking usernames, login passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs) Once such information has been entered, your deposits will be transferred out immediately   Receiving money, but ending up paying (entry of “OTP” becomes transfer) Defaulting trick: Pose as buyers and send phishing links to lure sellers to visit fraudulent trading websites Such websites contain instructions which lure sellers to log in to their own online banking apps to make transfers (ask sellers to enter “OTPs” in the “transfer amount” field, in reality making transfers)   Prevention tips: Never clink on unknown links or provide personal banking information.  Official communications are only received and sent on the Carousell app. Do not believe the rumour “clinking on a link to receive money”.  Under normal circumstances, sellers are not required to enter their banking information by clinking on unknown links.  In particular, if the websites connected via such links ask you to select banks, log in to e-banking apps, enter OTPs or credit card information, they are almost certainly phishing ones.   Bad/bounced-cheque Party (cheque scam) Defaulting trick: Pose as buyers and claim to buy your goods listing at $1,000 (example) Deliberately deposit a $10,000 cheque into your account Ask you to refund the excessive $9,000 immediately After your refund, the cheque cannot be honoured (bounced).  Eventually you lose $9,000 in cash.   Prevention tips: Cheque clearing and settlement requires several days.  Do not send goods or make refunds after just “seeing an increase in balance”.  The safest way is making face-to-face cash deals.   Fake buyer protection/payment on platform protection Defaulting trick: Claim to make payments with “Carousell Protection” or “platform buyer protection”. Ask you to provide your email addresses. Pose as Carousell afterwards to send phishing emails, luring you to enter banking or credit card information.   Prevention tips: Carousell will not ask you to leave the platform or clink on external links to provide information.   Three safety rules: Do not provide your email addresses hastily – scammers frequently use them to send phishing emails. Do not leave Carousell app easily – “buyer protection”, “platform guaranteed payment” are often excuses to lure you to visit fraudulent websites. Select “face-to-face cash deal” first – avoid all payment risks related to cheque payments and the Faster Payment System.   If you suspect that you have fallen prey to a scam, please call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222”. Important Notices Privacy Policy Sitemap Useful Links Last Revision: May 2026