Crab Craze Alert: Think Twice Before Paying $9.99 for a Pair of Shellfish
Singaporeans are always on the hunt for a bargain—especially when it comes to grub. But there’s a new V. 2 of a classic “too good to be true” scam that’s been making waves on TikTok.
Meet the Scam: “Jack Crab” and the Gigantic Price Drop
- Previously known as Crabber Restro—they’ve rebranded to Jack Crab.
- Promised two crabs for just $9.99—a deal that sounded sweeter than a Singaporean vanilla croissant.
- The promote posts were buried under the hashtag
#CrabDeliverySingapore.
Melissa Wix, a TikTok user who almost fell for it, shared a video on Friday (July 23 night) to give the whole community a heads-up.
What Did Melissa Show?
In her quick clip, she pointed out the amazing low price and the suspicious address: 175 Bencoolen Street—Burlington Square.
She pulled the “Jack Crab Restro” page onto the screen and highlighted the Crab Delivery Singapore offers, saying:
“Previously they called themselves Crabber Restro, now they’ve changed it to Jack Crab and they’re offering crabs at ridiculously low prices.”
Why This Is a Red Flag
- Wholesale prices versus retail markup—S$9.99 for two crabs is absurdly cheap.
- Locations that don’t match up—175 Bencoolen Street has no crab shop Jacob. It’s a line that screams scam.
- Misleading titles—“Jack Crab Restro” does not exist on their official website.
So next time you’re tempted by a TikTok “crab steal,” treat it like a sweet tuna sushi at half price—just a little too good to be true. Keep your guard up and your fork ready for a real deal.
Beware the “Crab” Scam on TikTok
What’s going on? A TikToker discovered that an online ad claiming to sell exotic crabs was actually a slick phishing scheme. The outlet, supposedly located in the United States, vanished back in April, but its website was still live and luring unsuspecting shoppers.
The Hook
- Fake Deal: The ad touted “premium crab” for quick delivery, complete with a website asking for address and credit card details.
- Insecure Input: The page had no encryption signs, meaning that anyone could sniff the info in transit.
The Real Test
After entering personal data, the victim faced a one‑time password (OTP) prompt—apparently the final payment checkpoint. She guessed random letters and numbers, and to her surprise the site insisted “Payment received.”
Why It’s a Scam
In legitimate transactions, an OTP mismatch would block the transfer. The fake site’s response highlighted that a real merchant couldn’t process money with a wrong code.
Takeaway
- Double‑check the link: Legitimate e‑commerce sites always display secure HTTPS and a lock icon.
- Watch for red flags: Is the OTP prompt oddly worded or does the website seem rushed?
- Act fast: If you’ve already entered details, call your bank immediately to freeze or cancel your debit/credit card.
Our TikTok Alert
Though the TikTok ad had survived repeated reviews, the \sketchy design and unnerving OTP response flagged a major scam. The TikToker urges others to stay vigilant—and, if already tricked, to ditch the card before anything gets paid.
Disclaimer
She chose not to file a police report after canceling her card, but she’s encouraging anyone hit by a similar ploy to report the fraud promptly. Keep your eyes and wallets safe out there.
Crab‑Feasting Scammers: Who’s Really in the Picture?
Picture this: a clip of a young woman happily gobbling up crabs—yes, you read that correctly—ends up in a shady ad. Melissa Wix is saying the footage was piloted by scammers who put it on the line without her permission.
Esther Hillary’s Insta‑Story S.O.S.
- Influencer Esther Hillary dropped a string of Instagram Stories, making it crystal‑clear that her video was used without clearance.
- She’s absolutely not part of the scam, but she’s not backing off either—she’s filed a police report to get those miscreants hauled in.
Bottom line: the crabs aren’t the only thing getting stolen—videos, credibility, and the right to say “No.” And it looks like the folks behind the scam are about to be served a serious plate of justice.
Almost Snagged by a TikTok Scam
In the comment thread beneath the viral clip, a handful of TikTok users confessed they were almost taken in by a slick scam, and they’re lighting a fire under the platform to get to the bottom of it.
- Scam nearly slipped them off the track.
- Users are calling out TikTok to investigate immediately.
Similar scam appeared on Instagram in April
The $18,000 Crab Catastrophe
Back in April, a regular guy found himself wiped out by a slick scam that claimed to sell a pair of crabs for just $9.99. Ever the bargain hunter, he spotted the deal on Instagram and thought he’d stumbled on a local zì chā restaurant called 8 Crab.
He clicked through, hit “pay,” and then a cryptic error message popped up. Not long after, he received a notification that his credit card had been linked to Apple Pay—a baffling mix-up that should have raised a red flag.
Realizing something was off, he rushed to his bank. By the time he spoke to the representatives, the scammers had already siphoned off $18,579 from his account. In a desperate move, he filed a police report to try to recover what slipped through their digital fingers.
Key Takeaways
- Stay alert for impossible deals. If a price looks suspiciously low, it probably is.
- Check the source. Verify the authenticity of the seller before clicking “buy.”
- Don’t ignore red‑herring notifications. Unexpected Apple Pay links and error messages are a common sign of fraud.
- Act fast. Contact your bank immediately if you suspect a scam.
- Document everything. Save error printouts and notifications for police or bank use.
So that’s how a supposedly $9.99 crab deal turned into a $18,000 nightmare. Moral of the story: Always read the fine print, or you’ll end up with a diet of regret instead of tasty crustaceans.
Be Smart, Stay Safe: Check Those Websites
Remember! Always stay alert when you’re surfing the web. Before you click any link or enter your details, double‑check that the site is legit.
Know Your Numbers
- Report scams to the police hotline: 1800-255-0000
- Share details on the i‑Witness site (no link to keep things simple)
- Need help? Call the anti‑scam helpline at 1800-722-6688
- Learn how to spot fraud on the Scam Alert platform
Watch Out on TikTok
AsiaOne has reached out to TikTok for more information, so keep an eye out for updates.
