29-year-old Singaporean man has been accused of running multiple Pokémon trading card scams on Carousell. According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), he has been linked to at least 111 suspected scam cases, with a total loss reported to be over S$80,000.
Allegedly Sold Limited Edition Cards But Never Delivered
Preliminary investigations found that the man advertised what he claimed were limited-edition Pokémon trading cards available for pre-order. Buyers paid through bank transfers, but the cards never arrived.
When some buyers questioned him, he told them that the delivery was “delayed,” but after a while, he stopped replying completely. SPF said he is believed to be involved in dozens of similar cases.
Online Community Members Raised Suspicions
In a Facebook group where users from Singapore and Malaysia discuss Pokémon trading cards, one user warned others about a Carousell seller using the name @mrkwek. The user wrote, “No delivery of goods, no refund. Now slow reply and still delaying.”
They mentioned they were planning to make a police report and asked others to reach out if they had the same issue. They also suspected the seller had fake reviews, noting that his profile showed 1,435 five-star reviews, which the user felt were suspicious. One review even claimed that the buyer received their card set.
Another member admitted that the positive reviews had convinced them to pre-order as well, and they were now planning to file a report.
A similar complaint appeared on Reddit, where a user pointed out that the Carousell account had been “restricted due to an unresolved transaction.”
A commenter added that the account was already “infamous” within the community. Checks later found that the @mrkwek account had been deactivated.
SPF said the Commercial Affairs Department identified and arrested the man on 1 December. He was charged in court on 3 December for cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
Court records listed an individual named Eugene Kwek Yi Jun, who appeared in court at 9 am and has been remanded. His case will be heard again on 10 December. If found guilty, he may face up to 10 years in jail and a fine.
According to documents shared by The Straits Times, Kwek allegedly convinced one victim that he had Pokémon cards for sale. The victim then transferred S$1,800 via PayNow to another man named Desmond Wong. However, the documents did not state Wong’s involvement.
