Ah, another day, another individual trying to profit from other Singaporeans’ desperate need for surgical masks.

Lest you’ve been hiding under a rock, you would know that surgical masks are as rare to find as Mewtwo these days.

Possible, but difficult.

While kiasu people are willing to pay more money just so they can get their hands on these goodies, dishonest people are trying to scam your money:

Another Surgical Mask Carousell Scam, Police Report Lodged

In some of the other instances, Singaporeans were charged exorbitant prices for surgical masks.

This time, the poor victims did not even receive the mask in the end.

A user on Carousell pretended to represent Pharmex Healthcare which sells surgical masks and healthcare items.

This is what the Carousell listing looked like, and similar listings on Carousell could be found under different users.

Upon contact, the scammer would claim to represent Pharmex and request for payment via PayNow under a “Pharmex” number.

After which, he would send over a fake invoice.

You probably already know what happens next. The scammer then goes MIA after the payment has been made.

There’s more than one victim of this scam and they have since lodged a police report.

One victim was so enraged by the scammer that they even offered a $1,000 reward if anyone is able to identify the culprit.

Another Person Almost Became A Victim But Insisted On Cash On Delivery

Another person took to Facebook to warn others regarding the scammer and is relieved that they insisted on Cash on Delivery.

Pharmex Healthcare’s parent company Yeap Medical Supplies Pte Ltd has also stepped forward to clarify that they do not sell masks on Carousell or other platforms.

There are only 3 Pharmex retail stores where they sell their products, which include Yishun, Kembangan and Our Tampines Hub and their e-store.

Let’s all be safe and be cautious when purchasing items on Carousell (especially surgical masks).

Try to opt for meetups and Cash On Delivery where possible and always be wary.

And also, lest you’re not aware, you would know need to wear a mask if you’re sick. Let Phua Chu Kang tell you about this here: