PUBLISHED ONAugust 14, 2026 9:54 AMBYDana LeongLosses resulting from beauty industry-related prepayments skyrocketed in the first half of 2026 and exceeded $1.9 million, 18 times the losses recorded in the same period last year, said the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).
In a press release on Friday (Aug 14), Case said that it received a total of 6,684 complaints in the first half of the year, a 6.9 per cent increase from the same period in 2025.
Complaints against the beauty industry topped the list — over 15 per cent of the total complaints received.
The number of complaints against the beauty industry more than doubled in the first six months of 2026, the consumer watchdog said.
Nearly four in 10 complaints were related to prepayment losses, due to reasons such as sudden business closures.
The sudden closure of Royal Secrets Wellness spa in February is one such example which led to prepayment losses exceeding $1 million. Case also mentioned that an individual lost nearly $50,000 at the time.
About 15 per cent of complaints involved alleged unethical sales tactics, while a further 14 per cent concerned delayed, refused or withheld refunds.
"Consumers should avoid making large advance payments where possible, and consider paying per use or in smaller instalments," said president of Case Melvin Yong.
The electrical and electronics industry ranked second with 530 complaints, followed by cars, travel and renovation contractors.
The travel industry, in particular, received 434 complaints in the first half of 2026, up 73.6 per cent compared to the year before.
According to Case, the increase was largely driven by a 148.9 per cent rise in complaints against online travel agents.
"The rise in complaints against the travel and airline industries comes amid recent air travel disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions and changes to flight schedules," said Case, adding that such conditions have increased the likelihood of cancellations, itinerary changes and service disruptions, particularly when transactions were made through intermediaries.
Yong said: "The complaint trends in the first half of 2026 show that consumer protection must continue to evolve alongside changes in the marketplace."
At the same time, he said that Case is "closely monitoring" how AI may shape the way products are marketed, priced and recommended to consumers.
"We will continue to work with Government agencies, industry partners and consumers to promote fair trading, strengthen consumer confidence and encourage responsible business conduct."
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