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CCS, which falls under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is the administering agency of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA).\u00a0<\/p>\n
While it does not have any legal power to compel businesses to provide redress or compensation to affected consumers, it can gather evidence and take enforcement actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In egregious cases, CCS can file for court orders to stop businesses from engaging in unfair trade practices. Non-compliance with a court order may result in contempt of court, which carries penalties of a fine or jail term.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder Singapore\u2019s fair trading laws, it is an unfair trade practice for businesses to charge for the supply of unsolicited products, or to make false or misleading claims to pressure consumers into making purchases,\u201d CCS said on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCountdown timers should only reflect genuine timelines given to consumers, while stock indicators should be reasonable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The commission also advised consumers to review their shopping carts for unexpected items when shopping online and verify that payment amounts match intended purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n Customers should also question the authenticity of urgency claims before making impulse purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese two interventions form part of a series of recent enforcement actions taken by CCS against businesses that employ dark patterns to mislead and pressure consumers into unintended purchases,\u201d said CCS chief executive Alvin Koh.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n