why ppl got only 1 bank account? me already say liao
step 1: alway set the limit to $0. only increase when you buy something, after paying fast hand fast leg to disable. usually a few min only
step 2:
first account: have a standalone bank account just for online (as in use it for E-payment, e-com etc... only). to deposit cash, physically go to the bank deposit machine to deposit cash.
2nd account: this bank saving account for salary/ passive income money deposit , only allow atm withdrawal function THAT ALL.
No access and not to have those all in one card, phone banking, flash pay, online banking, fund transfer, giro etcc... (simple if you inconvenience yourself, you inconvenience the scammer too) if bank say they have all in one card only no stand alone atm card, then call them to disable the all other function that tie to this account if cant then set the limit to 0
3rd account: this account is for daily/monthly use but with limited fund which you have to manually withdraw from 2nd account (physically go to the bank atm machine withdraw card for 3rd account), , can have any feature or function you need like paynow, flash pay, net, atm, FAST fund transfer, QR code etc....)
step 3: prefer your standalone online account to have less then $20. if dont want to pay the monthly service charge then keep it at $500 (at your own risk).
step 4: set alert to sms you if there any deduction, for me i set at 0.01cent
the scammer cant steal what you dont have. if your debit card got only $20 at the most you lose $20. that if all the step 1, step 2, step 3 and step 4 failed.
* some paying like amazon if not immediately. so if you have $500 and the item is $80. then transfer the rest of the money or withdrawn out first. hacker cant steal if there no money inside
update on the amazon payment, since amazon is not immediately payment, transfer the amount needed to a digital wallet like singtel dash (have virtual credit card), so no need to risk the the debit card which have min balance either 500 or ocbc 1000
Since April 2025, 32-year-old Kayla (not her real name) has been "fighting a nightmare".
She's been in tears almost daily, her hair has fallen out from the stress, and she has been consumed by depression and anxiety.
The reason? A Shopee scam, and the resultant struggle she's faced trying to recover her stolen money.
Her boyfriend, who spoke to Mothership, said Kayla had attempted to take her own life at one point.
The scam
On Apr. 2, a hacker who possessed a foreign IP address allegedly illegally accessed Kayla's Shopee account and bought 13 digital codes in 30 minutes.
The codes were charged to Kayla's DBS PayLah account, and totalled S$1,724.
Afterwards, the hackers deleted the Shopee account.
Transaction records seen by Mothership showed the various purchases, which ranged from S$47.51 to S$382.
Two high-value transactions, of S$565 and S$764 respectively, did not go through.
After the first 13 successful transactions, all subsequent transactions failed to go through.
In total, five transactions failed and were listed as "cancelled".
Mothership understands that "cancelled" transactions occur due to limits in the associated bank account, and not due to Shopee's flagging system.
Digital codes refer to digital products that can be bought on Shopee, such as SIM cards, dining vouchers, and travel passes.
Told she would not be able to recover money
The subsequent months saw Kayla attempting to get back her stolen money.
She contacted over 10 customer service agents, but was repeatedly told that she would not be able to receive a refund as the orders had already been completed.
She also filed a police report.
Told to withdraw case
But when she decided to take the matter to the Small Claims Tribunal, Shopee's legal department sent her an email urging her to withdraw her case.
The reason, they said, was because of Shopee's terms of service: Disputes would have to be resolved through arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
They wrote:
As opposed to the litigation process in the Small Claims Tribunal, which falls under the State Courts, arbitration is a private process.
According to the SIAC schedule of fees, parties must pay a S$3,270 filing fee, a S$5,000 administrative fee, and a S$5,000 arbiter's fee — a "financially impossible" measure for Kayla.
In contrast, it costs S$10 for an individual to file a similar in the Small Claims Tribunal.
Shopee's reply
In response to Mothership's queries, a Shopee spokesperson confirmed that the user has filed a case with the Small Claims Tribunal.
As a result, Shopee is unable to comment on the matter.
But the company is "cooperating fully with the process and committed to resolving the matter in good faith".
"We understand the difficulties this situation has caused the user and acknowledge the frustration they must feel," the spokesperson said.
The next hearing at the Small Claims Tribunal is scheduled for Aug. 26.