SINGAPORE: A 29-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a string of e-commerce scams involving pre-order sales of limited-edition Pokémon trading cards, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Dec 2.
Preliminary investigations found that the suspect had advertised Pokémon card pre-orders on Carousell. Interested buyers transferred payments via bank transfer but never received their items.
The suspect allegedly offered excuses about delivery delays before cutting off contact.
He is believed to be linked to at least 111 cases, with losses exceeding S$80,000.
Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department identified and arrested him on Dec 1. The man will be charged on Dec 3 with cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years’ jail and a fine.
SPF also highlighted that recent amendments to criminal law will soon introduce mandatory caning for scammers and syndicate members, with punishments ranging from six to 24 strokes depending on the offence.
Scam mules involved in laundering proceeds or providing support to syndicates may also face up to 12 strokes of discretionary caning. Source: Mothership
🔍 HackWarn.com Quick Analysis
Why This Scam Worked
- High-demand collectible: Limited-edition Pokémon cards create urgency and fear of missing out (FOMO).
- Trusted platform abuse: Scammers exploit Carousell’s popularity to appear legitimate.
- Pre-order trap: Upfront payment with delayed delivery gives scammers time to disappear.
- False reassurance: Claiming “delays” is a common tactic to buy time and avoid suspicion.
How to Stay Safe
- Avoid pre-paying strangers for collectibles with high resale value.
- Check seller reviews, history, and verification status.
- Use protected payment methods; avoid direct bank transfers.
- Report suspicious listings immediately to platforms and police.
