A Singapore resident, known only as “Ant,” is urging online shoppers to remain vigilant after falling victim to a highly sophisticated counterfeit scam involving a pair of fake Apple AirPods Pro purchased on the local marketplace platform, Carousell. The buyer lost S$260 despite noticing multiple red flags, admitting he “let my guard down” when meeting the young seller.
The incident highlights the increasing challenge for consumers to differentiate genuine products from high-quality replicas, which are now capable of cloning official Apple serial numbers to display valid warranty information.
The Deal and the Red Flags
Ant was browsing Carousell on November 28 when he found a listing for a “brand new and unopened” set of ‘AirPods Pro Gen 3’ priced at S$260, a significant discount from the retail price of approximately S$349.
Upon enquiring, the buyer noted two immediate warning signs:
- No Receipt: The seller claimed the item was a gift and therefore could not provide a purchase receipt.
- Cash Only: The seller insisted on cash payment despite Ant requesting to use PayNow, a common payment method in Singapore.
“That was the first red flag,” Ant recounted. However, after the seller verbally reassured him the product was authentic and agreed to a pre-payment test, Ant proceeded with a meetup at a lift lobby in Block 185 Bukit Batok West Avenue 6.
Assurance and Deception
The buyer’s final moment of vulnerability occurred during the transaction. Ant explained that seeing the seller, a young male estimated to be between 15 and 17 years old, led him to drop his guard.
“Upon seeing him, I felt more assured that such a young guy wouldn’t have the audacity to cheat and scam people,” Ant said. Trusting the visual appearance of the unopened box, he handed over the S$260 cash without completing the requested test.
Initial testing appeared positive, with the device connecting to Ant’s iPhone and appearing as genuine AirPods Pro, even showing a previously registered Apple warranty. It was later discovered that highly advanced counterfeit units can clone authentic serial numbers, enabling them to mimic this functionality.
Official Confirmation and Aftermath
Suspicion grew when Ant noticed the sound quality was inferior to his older AirPods model. Further research revealed key indicators of the scam: the device’s firmware was stuck, and the ‘Find My’ feature only tracked the location of the earbuds, not the charging case—a clear giveaway for a non-authentic product.
Ant booked a service appointment with Apple, where a service advisor confirmed his fears. “She took one look—less than 10 seconds—and said, ‘Sorry sir, I think this is non-authentic,’” Ant recalled. A certified Apple technician later furnished him with an official report, declaring the product non-authentic.
The seller has since failed to respond to Ant’s requests for a refund, ghosting and likely blocking the victim on Carousell.
Ant has lodged a police report and filed a report with Carousell. The Singapore Police Force confirmed that a report regarding the incident has been lodged. The victim is also considering a Magistrate’s complaint, hoping to prevent the young individual from continuing to scam others.
“It may be a small amount of money, but if our future generation can think of scamming people at such a young age, I seriously worry,” he warned.
Consumer Alert: Tips to Avoid Carousell Scams
Police and consumer experts routinely advise Singaporean shoppers to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and to insist on full functional checks before payment, especially for electronics. Consumers should:
- Insist on the Original Receipt: This is the most reliable proof of purchase and authenticity.
- Check Serial Numbers: Always verify the serial number on Apple’s website, but note that cloned serial numbers are a new threat.
- Conduct In-Depth Checks: Fully test key features like Active Noise Cancellation, firmware updates, and the full ‘Find My’ functionality of all components before handing over cash.
- Trust Your Instincts: Do not let factors such as a seller’s age or a convenient meetup location override initial red flags.
