1. The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams (IMCS) published the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) 2025 today. This is an annual update to the ratings assigned to major e-commerce marketplaces, based on the latest anti-scam features they have in place to secure e-commerce transactions.
Background
2. E-commerce scams remain one of the top scam types in Singapore. In 2024, there were 11,665 reported e-commerce scam cases, an increase of 19.2% compared to 9,783 cases in 2023. More than a third (37.6%) of all e-commerce scams reported in 2024 were perpetrated on Facebook. These scams generally involved the sale of goods and services online, which were not delivered after payment was made. (See Annex A for a breakdown of e-commerce scam cases across internet platforms.)
3. Since May 2022, the TSR has provided consumers with information on the anti-scam measures that major e-commerce marketplaces have in place. The TSR covers e-commerce marketplaces with a significant local reach or a significant number of e-commerce scams reported. The TSR microsite can be found at the following link:
https://www.mha.gov.sg/e-commerce-marketplace-transaction-safety-ratings.
4. Members of the public are encouraged to refer to the TSR, to find out more about the availability of safety features on e-commerce marketplaces, and what they should look out for when transacting online. Members of the public may also refer to the Marketplace-specific advisories on the TSR microsite, for information on the safety features that these e-commerce marketplaces have put in place.
Overall Ratings
5. The IMCS has reviewed the e-commerce scams situation and refreshed the TSR in partnership with the following major e-commerce marketplaces. The overall ratings are as follows:
| Rating | E-Commerce Marketplace |
| ✔✔✔✔ | Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop |
| ✔✔✔ | - |
| ✔✔ | Carousell |
| ✔ | Facebook Marketplace |
6. The overall safety rating assigned to each marketplace indicates the extent to which they have implemented measures that are critical to safeguard against e-commerce scams, namely: (a) user authenticity, (b) transaction safety, (c) availability of loss remediation channels for consumers, as well as (d) the effectiveness of their anti-scam measures. The ratings range from one to four ticks, with four ticks being the highest rating. E-commerce marketplaces with all the critical anti-scam measures in place, and which as a result see a lower number of scams on their platforms, will be awarded the full four ticks. Consumers should exercise greater caution when transacting on marketplaces without the above measures in place.
7. For the 2025 edition, TikTok Shop has been included in the TSR for the first time and awarded the full four ticks. Similar to other marketplaces awarded the full four ticks (i.e., Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee), TikTok Shop has implemented all the safety features deemed to be critical by MHA.
8. For more details on the E-Commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings, see Annex B.
What to “Check” before Transacting on E-Commerce Marketplaces
9. In addition to overall ratings, the TSR also provides two types of advisories:
(a) General advisory on how consumers can safeguard themselves when transacting on e-commerce marketplaces; and
(b) Marketplace-specific advisory on safety features that each e-commerce marketplace has put in place.
10. General advisory. Based on the modus operandi of e-commerce scams, the following safety features are critical to safeguard against e-commerce scams:
(a) User authentication. Consumers should look out for seller accounts that have their identities verified by the platforms, preferably against Government-issued documentation. Scammers are more likely to use unverified accounts to list their products and services.
(b) Secured payment options. Consumers should make use of secured payment options, such as escrow payment systems. Scammers are more likely to direct buyers to make payments through other channels (e.g., PayNow / bank transfers).
11. Marketplace-specific advisory. IMCS has been working with the major e-commerce marketplaces to improve the safety of online transactions. The e-commerce marketplaces have stepped up their anti-scam safety features as follows:
(a) Amazon employs advanced identity detection methods like document forgery detection, and image and video verification, to quickly confirm the authenticity of government-issued IDs. In addition, Amazon’s systems monitor selling accounts to identify anomalies or changes in account information, behaviours, and other risk signals.
(b) Lazada requires sellers to provide their identification and/or business registration documents for verification. This includes integrating the sellers’ registration process with SingPass or CorpPass for local sellers to enhance verification and security. Lazada also applies early risk controls such as account suspension and withholding or confiscation of proceeds when sellers do not comply with platform policies.
(c) Shopee requires all new and existing sellers to pass user verification based on Government-issued records. Overseas sellers who wish to sell in Singapore must go through a rigorous onboarding process, which includes checks on the sellers’ qualifications based on the overseas regulatory requirements.
(d) TikTok Shop requires user verification by government-issued documents. Corporate sellers are required to provide business registration documents while individual sellers are encouraged to use Singpass for identity verification. TikTok Shop also engages sellers periodically after the initial verification to update their credentials.
(e) Carousell requires Singpass verification upon detection of behaviours similar to known scam patterns or policy violations starting from June 2024. Additionally, since January 2025, professional sellers can get a Professional Account badge after completing Singpass verification.
(f) Facebook Marketplace imposes enhanced user verification measures for select marketplace sellers in Singapore starting in 2024. Facebook has also introduced in-product safety notices and marketplace messenger anti-scam notices to warn users of the risk of e-commerce scams.
12. Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information and Chairman of the IMCS said: “With the strengthening of anti-scam measures on conventional approach tools such as SIM cards, scammers have been pivoting to online platforms to approach scam victims. Online platforms must act quickly and do more to protect their users from falling prey to scams. The Government remains committed to working closely with online platforms to implement anti-scam measures and will not hesitate to use legal powers to compel online platforms to implement anti-scam measures if it is necessary to protect Singaporeans from scams. At the same time, we encourage consumers to exercise due diligence by checking that sellers are verified and using secured payment options.”
