Beauty industry prepayment losses up almost 18 times to over $1.9 million in first half of 2026: CASE
Consumers are advised to avoid making large advance payments where possible.
In the first half of 2026, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) recorded a surge in consumer complaints about the beauty industry, with prepayment losses soaring almost 18-fold to over $1.9 million. This figure more than triples the $108,000 logged in the same period in 2025. The beauty industry also led in complaint volume for the first half of 2026, amassing 1,124 complaints, more than double the 558 reported in 2025.
Motorcars once topped CASE's complaint list in the first six months of 2025, but the beauty industry now leads, with Royal Secrets Wellness and Wan Yang Health Product and Foot Reflexology Centre closures contributing to the majority of prepayment losses. CASE president Melvin Yong warned consumers to avoid making large upfront payments and to pay per use or in smaller instalments where possible.
Complaints against the travel industry also rose sharply, with a 76.4 per cent increase to 434 cases, driven largely by online travel agents. This marks the first time the travel industry has topped CASE's list of most complained-about industries since the first half of 2022.
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