Victims only realised that they had been duped when they did not receive the NDP tickets, or when scammers became uncontactable. - ST FILE
SINGAPORE: At least five cases of e-commerce scams involving the sale of National Day Parade (NDP) tickets have been reported since July 1.
In these cases, with total losses amounting to about S$250, victims encountered listings of ticket sales via platforms such as Telegram and Facebook, said the police on July 31.
When the victims expressed interest to purchase the tickets, they were directed to make payment via PayNow.
The victims realised that they had been duped only when they did not receive the tickets, or when scammers became uncontactable.
NDP tickets are not for sale, but are instead distributed for free via a balloting system on Singpass.
Re-selling of the tickets is strictly prohibited, and action will be taken against those caught scalping or using the tickets for fraudulent purposes, the NDP executive committee has said.
Tickets that are obtained via unauthorised channels will be rendered void, and those holding such tickets will be denied entry to the venue, the police added.
The NDP in 2025, which celebrates Singapore’s 60th birthday, will be held at the Padang on Aug 9.
E-commerce was the top scam type in Singapore in 2024, with 11,665 cases reported and at least $17.5 million lost.
Members of the public are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of sales listings before making purchases, and to report suspicious cases promptly.
To learn more about scams, they can visit scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield hotline on 1799. - The Straits Times/ANN
