The Police would like to alert the public on a scam variant involving the sale of fake ZoukOut tickets on Telegram and Carousell, where scammers would request for a deposit or full payment from victims in order to secure tickets for entry to Zouk. Since 1 August 2022, the Police have received at least 23 reports, with losses amounting to at least $7,000.
In these cases, scammers would pose as online sellers and approach victims on Carousell and Telegram platforms, to offer ZoukOut tickets for sale. The scammers would ask the victims to pay a deposit or make full payment for the tickets, before agreeing to deliver the tickets. Victims would only realise that they have been scammed when the scammers became uncontactable after the transfers had been made.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to only buy tickets from authorised sellers and to take the following precautions when making online purchases:
- Purchase only from authorised sellers or reputable sources. Buying cheap tickets from resellers is risky – If the price is too good to be true, it probably is;
- When purchasing tickets online, use escrow payment options that protect buyers by releasing payment to the seller only upon delivery, where possible. Avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the seller as this method does not offer any protection to buyers;
- Arrange for a physical meet-up with the seller to verify the authenticity of the tickets prior to making payment. Bear in mind that the party you are dealing with online is a stranger. Before performing a transaction, find out how the site safeguards your interest or able to help you resolve disputes with the seller; and
- Note that scammers may use a local bank account to enhance their credibility. However, the owner of the account may not be the person communicating with you online.
If you have information related to such cases, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Please dial ‘999’ if you require urgent Police assistance.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
25 November 2022 @ 6:22 PM