A man reported losing $100 after a Carousell seller allegedly asked him to pay deposits to reserve an iPhone 18 Pro Max. The seller claimed the phone would be collected at a telco shop. The platform has since suspended the seller’s account.
The incident occurred on Carousell, a popular online marketplace in Singapore. The buyer stated he was contacted by the seller through the platform’s messaging system. The seller allegedly offered the iPhone 18 Pro Max for sale but required multiple deposits before delivery.
The buyer said he followed the instructions but never received the phone. He then discovered the seller had disappeared from the platform. Carousell confirmed it has suspended the seller’s account and is investigating the matter.
This is not the first time Carousell has faced complaints about fraudulent listings. In 2023, the platform received over 500 reports of scams related to electronics and second-hand goods. Authorities have urged users to verify sellers and avoid paying deposits for unverified items.
Carousell has implemented stricter verification processes for sellers, but users continue to report issues. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in online marketplaces regarding trust and fraud prevention.
