Check a quote or official letter before you pay or sign

A woman moving from Serangoon to Kovan was quoted S$228, then charged S$1,280 in "long pushing distance" fees on moving day, bringing the bill to S$1,796.

The customer says she had to pay when the movers arrived, before her belongings were unloaded. The company says its T&Cs exclude such fees and that she declared five or six boxes.

Red flags: extras hidden in the T&Cs, an uncapped per-distance fee, paying while your goods are still on the truck.

An aircon company describes firms that "quote general service prices to get the booking, then upon arrival, insist that chemical wash is 'actually required.'" Another writes: "A $50 chemical wash that becomes $300 after extra parts or additional cleaning is a pattern we hear about regularly."

Red flags: a wash recommended without running or inspecting the unit, pressure to decide on the spot.

Industry pattern from aircon companies (commercial interest)

A Reddit user said a technician told them their condenser was leaking gas, although the unit was cooling well, and wanted about S$380 to fix the leak, clean the condenser and top up the gas. Commenters said it's a common upsell.

Red flags: a diagnosis that doesn't match what you see, several extras bundled together, no gauge reading or evidence shown.

One person's post, unverified. We couldn't open the thread to recheck it, so this is a paraphrase

About 20 households say they paid deposits to Axion Design before it stopped responding. One homeowner paid S$76,000. Police are investigating.

The founder says: "This is not a scam … because if it is a scam, I think I won't be here talking to you."

Red flags: a large deposit early, a "refundable" promise that isn't in the contract, a very young firm.

In 2024, CASE said renovation caused about S$728,000 of prepayment losses, more than any other sector.

A locksmith charged an elderly woman S$80 after the door was opened before he arrived. He told AsiaOne: "I asked if I could trouble her to relay the message that my fees are $120, no cancellation allowed." He later filed a police report over harassment after the story spread.

Lesson: get the call-out and cancellation fee in writing before anyone is sent. This is about unclear terms, not proven fraud.

A Reddit user in Dubai said a painter took a 50% cash advance to paint their villa, then disappeared for weeks and stopped answering calls. They said the police told them it was a matter for the courts.

Red flags: a 50% advance, cash only, no milestone contract.

One person's post (around 2021), unverified. We couldn't open the thread to recheck it, so this is a paraphrase

The National reported that more than 80 homeowners and hundreds of subcontractors lost "millions of dirhams" when renovation firm Signature Living ran into trouble.

The company says an executive took cash from clients without permission, and it is "not requesting and not accepting cash payments".

Red flags: cash handed to an individual instead of a bank transfer to the company, no receipt on company letterhead.

Dubai Police arrested a man who claimed to be an agent for several appliance brands and used three websites to advertise repairs. Police found 600 customer receipts.

Red flags: a site using brand logos that the brand's own website doesn't list, payment before the repair.

One cleaning company warns: "Watch out for companies advertising full duct cleaning for AED 99 or AED 149." Another lists "Mould detected, you need our premium package" as a classic upsell line.

Red flags: a price far below the market, a quote with no site visit, a mould claim with no photo or camera footage.

Industry pattern from cleaning companies (commercial interest)

A man who posted a fake maid-services ad on WhatsApp agreed a Dh3,500 fee and said "a Dh2,000 deposit must be made on the spot", then went silent. A court fined him Dh4,000. (A maid agency, but it's the same pattern seen with home services.)

Red flags: a WhatsApp-only business with no licence, same-day urgency, a deposit sent to a personal account.

At least 48 cases and S$3.6 million lost since May 2026. "Mentors" and fake "members" share profit screenshots; some victims get small "initial returns" first.

Red flags: an ad that leads to a chat group, a mentor, transfers to personal accounts, blocked withdrawals.

"Mentors" push small overseas-listed shares, and some promise to reimburse losses. Police: "No investment or trading strategy can guarantee profits."

Red flags: buy-now urgency, little-known overseas shares, promises to cover losses.

UAE residents were told to verify licences as scammers promise "up to 10% monthly profit". The regulator named several unlicensed firms.

Red flags: a fixed monthly return, no listing on the regulator's register.

An advance-fee scam used a lookalike website and fake letters with a stamp bearing the DFSA's name. The DFSA: it "does not permit Authorised Firms to use company stamps bearing the DFSA's name."

Red flags: a fee to release or withdraw money, a lookalike web address, a regulator stamp on a letter.

Dubai Police say legitimate platforms "do not guarantee fixed returns or risk-free profits" and don't ask for urgent payments outside official channels.

Red flags: guaranteed returns, urgency, payment outside regulated channels.