Heads‑Up: Splash Out, Stay Safe on Black Friday & Singles’ Day
Thinking of hunting for tears‑rate discounts this Black Friday (Nov 23) or the 11.11 Singles’ Day spread? Singapore’s police and Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT) want you to pause, double‑check, and then enjoy your online spree.
What the Police Had to Say
Police fired off a warning early Saturday (Nov 10) after noticing a spike in “too‑good‑to‑be‑true” offers. More than 1,800 e‑commerce scam reports landed on their desks between January and September, totalling roughly $1.5 million misappropriated in stolen payments.
“Victims usually fall for fake deals advertised on sites like Carousell. They pay, but the product never ships,” police explained.
Advice from the force? Keep your impulse shopping in check, stay skeptical of whirlwind discounts, and never wire money up front. Scammers can even pretend to be local banks or hand out fake IDs to look legit.
SingCERT’s Take
Alongside the police, SingCERT issued a broader caution covering Black Friday and all sorts of holiday promos—from Cyber Monday to Thanksgiving jazz.
Typical Scam Moves
- Phishing websites and sleazy emails
- Fake “greeting cards” that are really phishing links
- Bogus travel packages or discounted tickets
- Text messages promising “limited‑time” deals to click
Spotting Legit Sites
- Type the actual URL in your browser—don’t click on emailed links.
- Look for the little lock icon in the address bar.
- If the site has an SSL certificate, you’re in a safer zone.
- Check comments, reviews, and official contact details.
Reach Out For Help
Calling it in is quick: 1800‑722‑6688 for scam alerts, or 1800‑255‑0000 to file a report. Online, use www.scamalert.sg or www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
Before you hit “buy now,” make sure you’re peeking at a secure site, not a playground for fraudsters.
