Tour & Activity Scams in Singapore

Tour Package Shopping Commission Trap

Singapore-based tour operators and freelance guides include mandatory shopping stops at specific stores — typically selling jade, silk, or herbal products in Chinatown or Orchard area — where guides earn undisclosed commissions on every sale. Tourists are pressured to stay in the store for extended periods and made to feel obligated to buy. Licensed Singapore tourist guides are regulated by the Singapore Tourism Board, but unlicensed operators and guides brought in with inbound tour groups from China and Southeast Asia frequently run this scheme.