Keep your money safe. Learn how to detect the latest e-commerce scams and protect yourself while shopping online.
More online shoppers are falling for e-commerce scams. In such scams, fraudsters pose as legitimate sellers to trick victims into revealing sensitive information like login details, OTPs, and PINs, gaining unauthorised access to accounts.
Here’s what to watch out for and how to stay protected 👇
What are E-Commerce Scams?
E-commerce scams typically involve fake online listings or promotions designed to lure victims into making a purchase. Scammers may use social media ads, messaging apps, or even hijacked livestream content to advertise products at unbelievably low prices.
Instead of receiving your order, you’re often redirected to a fake checkout page, where your personal and financial details are collected.
How E-Commerce Scams Work:
1. Fake Online Advertisements/Listings
Image Credits: Singapore Police Force
- Scammers run ads on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms.
- These ads appear legitimate and often promote “too good to be true” deals.
- These fraudulent sellers may steal videos from popular livestreamers without permission, then alter prices or add “exclusive deal” banners to make the ads look credible.
2. Phishing for Details via Fraudulent Checkout Pages
- Clicking the ad redirects you to an external site designed to look like a real checkout page.
- These sites may show trusted logos (e.g., Visa, Mastercard), familiar payment interfaces, or web addresses similar to official domains.
- During checkout, victims are prompted to provide:
- Full name
- Phone number (including the one linked to your YouTrip account)
- Card number
- Delivery address
- Email address
- The site may then ask for:
- An SMS OTP (masquerading as purchase verification, but actually phishes your YouTrip login OTP)
- A PIN for “verification”, which victims may unknowingly reuse across multiple e-wallet or banking applications
- An unsuspecting victim would have inadvertently allowed the fraudster to gain full access to their accounts
⚠️Note: YouTrip never sends SMS OTPs for purchase verification. All 2-factor authentication for card-not-present transactions is done securely using 3D Secure (3DS) and the slide-to-authorise feature within the YouTrip app (see below).
3. Fake “Payment Failure” Page
- After entering your details, the site may display a loading screen, error message, or failed payment notice.
- Victims are often prompted to “try again”, giving scammers another opportunity to steal information from other credit/debit cards or another PIN number.
For more on how YouTrip protects your transactions, check out this article on enhanced security measures.
How to Protect Yourself
- Think twice before clicking links – If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use official channels only – Always transact through official apps, websites or trusted payment gateways. Avoid transacting through links received via SMS, email, social media platforms, or unfamiliar websites.
- Never share OTPs or PINs with anyone: YouTrip never sends SMS OTPs for purchase verification(s). All 2-factor authorisations for card-not-present transactions are done securely within the YouTrip app via the slide-to-authorise feature.
- Use unique PINs across accounts: Don’t reuse the same PIN across multiple accounts – it prevents scammers from accessing multiple accounts if one PIN is compromised.
- Act fast if compromised: If you suspect you’ve entered information on a phishing site, contact YouTrip Customer Support immediately to secure your account.
For any other Fraud & Scam-related FAQs click here.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
1️⃣ Lock your physical/virtual card via your YouTrip app
2️⃣ Change your App PIN & password of your email account if someone has access to that email account
3️⃣ Email & report your case to fraud-reporting@you.co
4️⃣ If you wish to stop any new transactions from happening and immediately suspend your YouTrip account, you can activate the Kill Switch by calling +65 6904 9334
5️⃣ Make a local police report here if your card is lost, stolen, or being used fraudulently
For other non-fraud and scam enquiries, please continue to contact us at customer@you.co
Your security is our top priority. Stay alert and shop smart, and learn more about other common scams here
For any other Fraud & Scam-related FAQs click here.
