Carousell Scam. Telltale signs that I ignored.
Read my previous post for full story first!
TLDR I was almost scammed 5K SGD just to make a $5 sale on Carousell.
‼️‼️Telltale signs (that I noticed on the hindsight)
1. The Buyer account was a Malay name and user ID. When the scammer sent me the pix of her PC asking for my email, there was a different name. and the address was incomplete with no Unit number.
2. I received 3 emails for the same purchase, with different code number. I quickly opened the first one, without even noticing the other 2 emails.
3. All three emails were from different Gmail accounts. which i didnt even noticed it, as by default, Gmail app hides the sender details. I didnt even check!!
4. The Ads on the email were for RM, and were expired!?
5. The email "Hi (emailaddress)" instead of my Carousell User ID.
6. Aft I clicked the Confirm Order button, there was a pop up saying with the deal amount of "5,SGD"... yes, with the comma!! I ignored 😩
7. I had to link my credit card to receive payment! Which was uncommon for selling platforms.
8. Amount was in GHS Ghana Currency!!
9. The Chatbot told me to top up "$GD1000" into my bank, as the transaction did not go thru.
10. The payment was initiated to Hubtel General... not even Carousell.
I mean, the scammers did such a bad job with all the loopholes and typo and I WENT AHEAD. I blame it on the excitement to sell my first item!!
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IMPORTANT
⚠️ Always complete the purchase within the app.
⚠️ Check for above telltale signs.
⚠️ Trust your gut feeling! And dont get too excited just for a $5 deal!!!!! (thats me!!)
⚠️ Do not click on buttons on the emails.
⚠️ Do not make up excuses to justify any weird signals!!!
⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️
Thankfully, I was not scammed a single cent. But as proven, this was such a easy scam to fall into, even for a tech savvy, usually careful adult, ie me.
Ive made a Police report online. And the police officer called me right after to make sure I wasn't successfully scammed. He even asked how Im sure I wasn't.
I was checking my OCBC bank app again and again after, and OCBC had already cancelled my card immediately.
Police officer also advised that I change the password of my email, just in case. And asked if I reported the case to Carousell.
AND reminded me to be careful, no matter how big the offer was... 😭😭 Mine was only $5!!!!!!
‼️‼️ Be vigilant everyone!!!
From my experience, one vital lesson is to always verify emails carefully. Scammers often use multiple Gmail accounts and send several messages with different codes to create confusion. I learned to closely check the sender's email address and not just rely on the default Gmail app view, which can hide important details. Also, the currency and payment details in messages can be giveaways. For example, the scam I faced used Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) and incorrect punctuation like commas in amounts, which should raise immediate suspicion. Another tip I found useful was to never link my credit card or bank details outside the official platform’s app. Genuine Carousell transactions don’t ask for such sensitive information to be shared by email or through links. It also helped me to trust my gut feelings; if the deal sounds too good or the process feels off, it’s better to pause and verify before clicking any confirmation buttons. Finally, after any suspicious interaction, report the incident to the platform and local authorities. I filed an online police report and was contacted by a police officer, which gave me reassurance and added safety steps like changing email passwords. Sharing my story to help others stay alert and safe when buying or selling online—never let excitement override caution!
