Please note that you may be asked to use PayNow for cash on delivery orders as we move towards a cashless approach by end of March 2024.

Stay alert for parcel scams!

Protect yourself from scams. Check out Ninja Van’s public advisory to learn more about parcel delivery fraud and cash on delivery scams.

Ninja Van’s scam advisory

Beware of these scams

As e-commerce becomes more commonplace, scammers are targeting e-shoppers more and more. Of these, phishing scams and cash on delivery fraud are the most prominent. 

Phishing scams

Cash on Delivery scams

Fake emails, SNS messages or even websites that request for your personal details and/or payment information. These fake messages mimic well-known brands and companies.False deliveries that lure customers to pay for parcels that they did not buy or do not match their expectations. These often require cash payment upon delivery.

If you have received a suspicious parcel, please reject it and refuse payment.

Notice: Together with an increase of parcel scams, we also see a rise of driver abuse. Should you be a victim of a parcel scam, please do not blame or abuse our staff as they are only responsible for delivering the parcel. Instead, please contact the seller directly for a refund, or reach out to our customer service Ninjas for help.


Latest scam updates!

Ninja Van Singapore has been alerted to scammers who are falsely representing themselves as “Ninja Van SG” and targeting unsuspecting individuals through email. 

According to the information gathered, scammers are using email phishing disguised as delivery notifications, thereby tricking email recipients into accessing fake websites.

We do not require our parcel recipients to verify their delivery addresses over email. We strongly advise the public not to respond to suspicious emails or click on any accompanying links.

We will only contact our parcel recipients via official channels, such as our official social messaging system NinjaChat, our verified social media and WhatsApp accounts, or our email addresses that end with ninjavan.co.

At the time of this release, we have not been made aware of any victims of these email phishing scams.

Previous scam updates

Fraudulent WhatsApp messages

We have received notice of a new scam using fraudulent WhatsApp messages with surveys and links claiming to be from Ninja Van representatives. Please do not reply or click on the links. Ninja Van will only send surveys via NinjaChat or through emails ending with @ninjavan.co.

Fake Ninja Van mall website

We have been alerted to two fake e-commerce sites claiming to be associated with Ninja Van (ninjavanmall.com and ninjavanshopping.com) selling various consumer goods and products. Please note that these sites are not affiliated with Ninja Van. We have since issued take-down requests for the sites.

Cash on delivery scams

COD scams are a type of scam that has been gaining prominence in Singapore and other neighbouring countries.

The majority of these scammers are based overseas. They send COD parcels via freight forwarders who assign the last mile deliveries to 3rd party logistics providers (3PLs) like Ninja Van. Hence, most 3PLs have no direct contact with these scammers.

Behind-the-scenes of COD scams

There are typically three parties handling the COD parcel before you receive and pay for it, only to realise that it is not what you have ordered or that it has a much lower value.
Scammers

Foreign sellers posing as legitimate e-commerce stores on popular platforms like Lazada or Shopee use freight forwarders to arrange COD deliveries.

Freight Forwarders

These are middlemen connecting foreign sellers and 3PLs. They receive the parcels directly from the sellers and pass them on to the 3PLs.

3PLs

3PLs like Ninja Van are responsible for delivering the parcels to your doorstep. We also collect cash on behalf of the freight forwarders and remit it to them.

Ninja Van’s role in COD scams

Upon scam alerts, Ninja Van usually facilitates a refund out of goodwill. To reduce the occurrence of such scams, we try to maintain close relationships with our freight forwarders. So we can screen shippers before we onboard them and blacklist identified scammers.

In Singapore, we are working closely with the Singapore Police Force to develop educational initiatives for members of the public to make such scams more well known.

Is it possible to weed out the bad actors completely?

Unfortunately, no. The fight against COD scams is an ongoing battle since most cases originate from foreign jurisdictions. 

Blacklisting scammers is not a 100% foolproof solution. These foreign syndicates usually own multiple online stores or use more than one shipping consolidator.

What you can do 

Ninja Van Singapore takes COD scams seriously and has been working closely with relevant stakeholders to tackle them.

We strongly encourage members of the public to be extra vigilant.

DO NOT pay for any parcels that they have not bought online.

Should customers come across any suspicious parcels or payment requests, please reject the delivery, and report to Ninja Van Singapore directly via:

Live Chat: Mon- Sat, 9am to 8pm

Alternatively, visit the contact us page if you have any inquiries.


Other precautions you can take

Inform household members: If you are expecting a COD parcel, let household members know what the item is and when to expect them.

Don’t be afraid to say no: Always check the item description if you are unsure and reject payment of any suspicious parcels.

Do your due diligence: Check reviews and only buy from reputable sites.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is: If a high-value item is being sold for a much lower price, think twice about its authenticity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


Why is Ninja Van still accepting COD?

It remains an option for recipients who prefer to pay when their parcel is delivered to them.

Can recipients open COD parcels before making payment?

No, it is prohibited. Parcels can only be opened after payment is made. Recipients can refuse COD parcels if they did not make a purchase/the parcel seems suspicious.

Why can't Ninja Van sieve out scam parcels?

We do not open any parcels and deliver only to the address specified by our shipping partner.