S'pore car detailing company gets caught posting fake ChatGPT-generated 5-star reviews on Sgcarmart

Over the last two years, Quantum Globe Pte Ltd, the owner and operator of car detailing company Lambency Detailing, had been posting fake five-star customer reviews on its business page on Sgcarmart.com, a platform for buying and selling vehicles.

Quantum Globe did so by using its customers' information without their knowledge or consent and leveraging ChatGPT to generate customised review content based on the services provided to the customer.

The company's unfair trade practice came to light after the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) launched an investigation in January 2025, according to a Jul. 3 media release issued by CCCS.

Remedial actions

Besides admitting to engaging in such a practice, Quantum Globe also gave an undertaking to CCCS that it would, amongst others, publish notices on Sgcarmart for six months, informing customers that it had posted fake reviews.

When Mothership visited Lambency Detailing's page on Jul. 3 evening, the company had posted the notice under its profile, stating that the fake reviews were found to have been posted "by a staff member on behalf of customers".

Lambency Detailing also invited patrons who encountered misleading or suspicious reviews to contact the company via its website.

8 customers implicated in fake reviews

In the media release, CCCS revealed that it commenced its investigation after receiving a complaint from a Lambency Detailing customer, who had discovered that unauthorised reviews were posted under her name on Sgcarmart.

During the investigation, CCCS confirmed with seven other customers that fake reviews containing their names, vehicle registration numbers, and vehicle photographs had been posted without their consent.

Additionally, CCCS said it had "leveraged digital technology and algorithms, which revealed mass postings of suspicious five-star reviews on Sgcarmart on certain dates".

When confronted with the evidence, Quantum Globe admitted to submitting unauthorised customer reviews generated by ChatGPT through a QR code provided by Sgcarmart.

According to CCCS, the QR code allowed users to share feedback on businesses without needing a prior account with Sgcarmart, Facebook, or Google.

Quantum Globe & director submitted undertakings to CCCS

Following its investigation, CCCS said Quantum Globe had submitted an undertaking, promising that it would:

• Stop posting fake reviews;
• Set up a feedback channel for a six-month period to allow customers to report any fake reviews on Sgcarmart;
• Notify customers whose details were used in reviews posted by Quantum Globe between October 2024 and January 2025 and invite them to report any fake reviews through the feedback channel;
• For a period of six months, publish notices on Sgcarmart and any online platforms used for marketing Lambency Detailing's brand or services to inform customers that it had posted fake reviews and alert them of the feedback channel; and
• Remove any reviews verified to be fake on Sgcarmart within eight working days, including the seven reviews identified by CCCS during investigations

Quantum Globe's director, Matthew Lim Jun Ho, also gave an undertaking to CCCS, promising that he will not engage in any unfair trade practice or facilitate any business under his control to do so.

Separately, SGCM Pte. Ltd., the owner and operator of Sgcarmart, also told CCCS that it is "exploring additional verification measures", such as text messages or email confirmation, to enhance the integrity and authenticity of submitted reviews further.

First fake review case involving 3rd-party platform & use of AI

While the case involving Quantum Globe was the second fake review case that CCCS had uncovered, chief executive Alvin Koh said that it was the first case involving both a third-party platform and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create those fake reviews.

Koh emphasised that the commission remains committed to "take firm action" against businesses engaging in such unfair practices.

Members of the public who wish to report cases of unfair trade practices by errant businesses can contact the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) at 6277 5100 (Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 5pm) or via its website here.

Top images via Lambency Detailing & Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore