Big sales events such as 11.11 and the year-end holidays bring a flood of deals, and with them, a rise in fake shops and too-good-to-be-true listings. Before you pay, it is worth taking five minutes to check online seller legit status properly. This article gives you a practical verification checklist that works across three very different places you might buy from: standalone websites, marketplace stores and sellers on social media or chat apps.
It is not a general guide to online shopping safety. Instead, it focuses on one question: is the person or business on the other side real, and are they likely to deliver?
Start With Where You Are Buying
The checks you can do depend on the type of seller. A marketplace gives you more built-in information and protection than a stranger on social media. A standalone website sits somewhere in between.
| Seller type | What you can verify | Built-in protection | Biggest risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone website | Business registration, domain age, contact details, policies | Depends on your payment method | Cloned or fake shop sites |
| Marketplace store | Ratings, reviews, sales history, seller badges | Platform payment and dispute processes, if you stay on the platform | Being lured to pay outside the platform |
| Social media or chat seller | Profile history, comments, real-world identity | Little to none | Payment by bank transfer with no recourse |
Checklist for Standalone Websites
When you land on an unfamiliar online shop, work through these points:
- Look up the business. Many Singapore businesses display a Unique Entity Number (UEN). You can search for the business on Bizfile, the online portal run by ACRA (the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority), to confirm it is registered. A registered business is not a guarantee of good service, but a missing or mismatched UEN is a warning sign.
- Check the web address carefully. Scam sites often copy a real brand with a small spelling change or an unusual domain ending. Type the address of well-known brands yourself instead of clicking ads.
- Check how old the site is. A WHOIS lookup tool shows when a domain was registered. A shop claiming years of history on a domain registered very recently deserves caution.
- Find real contact details. Look for a physical address, a working phone number and a business email, not only a contact form or chat widget.
- Read the policies. Legitimate shops usually have clear returns, refund, shipping and privacy policies. Copied text with other brands’ names left in is a red flag.
- Search for outside reviews. Search the shop name together with words like “scam” or “review”, and check forums and independent review sites, not just testimonials on the site itself.
- Look for accreditation where relevant. Some retailers are accredited under schemes such as CaseTrust, run by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). Verify any badge on the scheme’s own website, since logos can be copied.
Checklist for Marketplace Stores
Marketplaces make it easier to judge a seller, but only if you use the information properly.
- Read recent reviews, not just the star rating. Sort by newest and look for complaints about wrong items, fakes or non-delivery.
- Check the sales history and joining date. A brand-new store selling branded goods at deep discounts is risky.
- Compare prices. If one listing is far cheaper than every other seller of the same item, ask why.
- Look at photos. Stock images alone are common, but a reverse image search can reveal photos copied from elsewhere.
- Stay on the platform. Never agree to pay by direct bank transfer or PayNow to a seller who asks you to leave the marketplace. Doing so usually removes the platform’s buyer protection.
- Check the platform’s safety rating. The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes Transaction Safety Ratings for major e-commerce marketplaces, which show how well each platform guards against scams. Check the latest ratings on the official government website.
Checklist for Social Media and Chat Sellers
Buying from a seller on social media, a community group or a chat app can be convenient, but it carries the most risk. Before you pay:
- Check how long the account has existed and whether it has a consistent posting history.
- Look at comments and tags from other buyers, and watch for comments that are turned off or look fake.
- Ask for more photos or a short video of the actual item, with something that proves it is current, such as a note with today’s date.
- Prefer meet-ups or cash on delivery for local deals, in a safe public place, so you can inspect the item before paying.
- Be wary of pressure. Phrases like “last piece”, “many people asking” or “pay deposit now to hold” are classic scam tactics.
- Never share one-time passwords (OTPs), card details or banking login information. No genuine seller needs these.
Red Flags That Should Stop You
Whatever the seller type, pause if you notice any of these:
- Prices dramatically below what others charge.
- Requests to pay into a personal account in a different name.
- Reluctance to provide a receipt, invoice or business details.
- Links sent by message that lead to payment pages or ask you to log in.
- Poor grammar combined with urgent deadlines.
- Changes in the story, such as a sudden extra “shipping” or “customs” fee after payment.
What to Do If You Think You Have Been Scammed
If something goes wrong, act quickly:
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report the transaction and ask about blocking or disputing it. Our guide on what to do if your card is lost or stolen covers the first steps for securing your card.
- Report it to the platform if you bought through a marketplace or social media site.
- Make a police report through the Singapore Police Force online reporting service.
- Save evidence. Keep screenshots of listings, chats, payment records and the seller’s profile.
- Check ScamAlert and ScamShield. The ScamAlert website lists current scam types, and the ScamShield app can help filter scam calls and messages.
Tips for Honest Sellers Who Want to Look Trustworthy
If you sell online yourself, buyers will run these same checks on you. Display your UEN and contact details clearly, use secure payment options and publish clear policies. Our guide to choosing an ecommerce platform in Singapore explains options that make it easier to show buyers you are legitimate.
A few minutes of checking before you pay is far easier than trying to recover money afterwards. Make these steps a habit, especially during busy sale seasons, and you will shop with far more confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a website is a cloned or fake shop? Check the web address for small spelling changes or unusual endings, and type well-known brand addresses yourself rather than clicking ads. A WHOIS lookup shows when the domain was registered, so a shop claiming years of history on a brand-new domain deserves caution.
Is a registered business with a UEN automatically trustworthy? No. You can search a UEN on Bizfile to confirm the business is registered, but registration is no guarantee of good service. A missing or mismatched UEN is a warning sign, so combine it with outside reviews, clear policies and real contact details.
What does the Transaction Safety Rating mean for marketplaces? It shows how well a major e-commerce marketplace guards against scams. The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes the ratings, so check the latest figures on the official government website before choosing where to shop.
Is it safe to buy from a stranger on social media if I use cash on delivery? It is safer than paying upfront, but still risky. Meet in a safe public place so you can inspect the item before paying, and ask for a fresh photo or short video showing today’s date. Never share OTPs, card details or banking logins.
Where can I check whether a message or scheme is a known scam? The ScamAlert website lists current scam types, and the ScamShield app helps filter scam calls and messages. If you think you have been scammed, tell your bank or card issuer immediately, report to the platform, and make a police report.
Further reading: How to Join Group Buys in Singapore Without Getting Burned