For buyers: Common scams to look out for

We take the safety of our community very seriously and do our best to keep the marketplace a pleasant place for all. Nonetheless, as with any online marketplace or trading site, there may still be unforeseen circumstances.

We want to help ensure you have the best buying experience on Carousell, so here are some common scams to look out for as a buyer! #spotthesigns #spreadthewordonscams 

Item not received

Be careful of scammers who go missing-in-action after receiving your payment. You should avoid paying upfront and use Carousell Protection (available in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan) to secure your payment. Alternatively, consider opting for in-person transactions and only perform payment after receiving your item.

Item not as described

Instead of how the item was described on the listing, scammers may deliver an item that is of a different variation such as size, colour, model or version, or is incomplete or has missing parts, or is damaged or which has one or more undisclosed defects. You should secure your transaction with Carousell Protection, which covers orders with tracked delivery. Alternatively, opt for in-person transactions and perform payment after checking the condition of the item carefully.

Event tickets and vouchers

Be extra careful when purchasing event tickets and vouchers. When purchasing resale tickets or vouchers, be sure of its terms and condition which is usually printed on the overleaf. Certain tickets and vouchers may not be eligible for resale and could be rejected by the vendor upon the attempt to use or entry.

Counterfeit goods

Scammers will sometimes offer high quality, brand name items at too-good-to-be-true prices. Unfortunately, these items are priced so attractively because they are counterfeit, or ‘knock-off’ replicas. To double check, consider asking the seller for proof of original purchase to guarantee authenticity — for example, if the seller has the receipt and tags of the item. In general, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is!

Pre-Orders

Exercise due diligence, particularly for pre-order listings and transactions. Unfortunately, there are some sellers who collect deposits for pre-orders within a certain time frame, before going missing-in-action. Be sure to do your homework and read the reviews of other community members’ experiences in dealing with the seller.

In-game Products

Be careful when purchasing in-game products as some mobile games do not allow virtual items to be transferred between players. Also, beware of the risks involved in sharing login / account credentials with other parties.

Transactions outside of Carousell

Scammers may entice buyers to contact them directly on other platforms such as WhatsApp by offering a better or faster deal if bank transfer payments are made directly to them. Do not fall for it!