Carousell blocks over 1.28 million phishing links as report identifies top five online scams in Southeast Asia

Carousell, a leading multi-category online marketplace operating in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, released its 2024 Regional Scam Trends Report on 30 July 2025.

The report highlights the top five online scams affecting regional consumers and details Carousell’s anti-fraud measures, including the blocking of more than 1.28 million malicious links.

Compiled by the Carousell Trust Working Group, the eight-page report draws from police data and user reports, outlining emerging threats and prevention strategies for both buyers and sellers.

Top five scams in 2024

The report identified Counterfeit Item Scams as the most prevalent, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong, where fraudsters targeted fashion enthusiasts with fake luxury goods and sneakers.

E-commerce Scams ranked second, involving listings of popular electronic gadgets by sellers who disappeared after payment was made.

Concert and Event Ticket Scams followed closely, often exploiting high-demand events by offering fake or non-existent tickets.

Another common scheme was Fake Buyer Phishing, where scammers impersonated legitimate buyers and sent phishing links disguised as Carousell or banking portals to harvest personal or financial details.

Rounding out the list was Fake Carousell Support, in which fraudsters posed as the platform’s help team through chat or SMS to trick users into revealing confidential account information.

Market-specific scam trends

Carousell’s findings show that while these scams were regionally widespread, certain fraud types dominated specific markets in 2024:

• Malaysia: Fashion Item Scams involving sellers who vanished after payment.

• Hong Kong: Ticket Scams tied to sold-out concerts and events.

• Taiwan: “50% Off” Scams using unrealistic discounts to pressure buyers.

• Philippines: Digicam Scams targeting photography enthusiasts.

• Singapore: “Enabler” Job Scams recruiting users to host fraudulent listings.

Multi-layered defence and enforcement

To counter rising fraud attempts, Carousell deployed a multi-layered strategy combining automated detection with human review.

In 2024 alone, the platform:

• Blocked 1.28 million phishing links, 727,000 email addresses, and 20,000 malicious QR codes shared in chat.

• Issued 23 million in-app safety alerts warning users about suspicious listings or behaviour.

• Suspended 422,000 suspicious accounts and reviewed 309,000 user reports.

Gijs Verheijke, Carousell’s Director of Trust and Customer Experience, said user education remained key to the company’s fraud prevention efforts.

“User education has always been a cornerstone of our trust strategy,” he said. “By revealing scammers’ playbooks, we’re empowering sellers to spot phishing attempts and helping buyers question suspicious deals.”

Practical safety guidance

Carousell’s report also shared practical advice for users to stay safe online:

• Stay within the app: Conduct all communications through Carousell’s in-app chat and avoid moving to WhatsApp or Telegram.

• Use secure payments: Make purchases using Carousell’s integrated ‘Buy’ button, which releases payment only after order confirmation.

• Protect personal data: Never share passwords, emails, or personal details, as these are not required for transactions on the platform.

Awareness and prevention campaign

To complement the report, Carousell has launched a month-long safety campaign across its app and social media channels to raise awareness about online scams.

The initiative aims to empower users through education while reinforcing backend security measures to prevent fraud before it occurs.

As digital transactions continue to rise across Southeast Asia, Carousell’s report underscores the growing need for strong cybersecurity defences and user vigilance in the online marketplace economy.