CCS Takes Action against Courts and PRISM+ for Misleading Website Features

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCS”) has found that two retailers of consumer electronics and home appliances, Courts^[1] and PRISM+^[2], have used website design features that mislead consumers. Courts automatically added unsolicited items into consumers’ shopping carts, while PRISM+ used fake countdown timers and misleading stock indicators to pressure consumers into purchases. 

“Sneak into Basket” by Courts 

Following a consumer complaint, CCS investigated and found that Courts engaged in an unfair trade practice by charging consumers for products they never selected. During certain promotion periods, Courts’ website (https://www.courts.com.sg) automatically added certain items to consumers’ carts without seeking their consent. For example, an Acer vacuum cleaner was added to a consumer’s cart after that consumer selected an Apple iPad for purchase.^[3] 

This practice puts consumers at risk of unknowingly paying for the unsolicited items if they (a) failed to notice and (b) remove such items before checkout.^[4] Despite receiving customer complaints about this practice in as early as 2024, Courts made no changes until CCS intervened in June 2025.^[5] 

Courts has given an undertaking to CCS to cease this practice immediately. In addition to making changes to its website, Courts also agreed to refund customers affected by this unfair trade practice.^[6] 

“False Urgency” by PRISM+

In a separate investigation, CCS identified multiple design features on PRISM+’s website (https://prismplus.sg/) that have the effect of creating false urgency in order to pressure consumers into hasty purchases. The problematic features consists of fake countdown timers, misleading stock indicators, unsubstantiated shortage claims and inflated discounts e.g. “Up to 67% off”

PRISM+ has rectified these website issues and provided an undertaking to CCS that it will not engage in any unfair trade practices. 

"These 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,” said CCS Chief Executive Mr Alvin Koh. "CCS remains committed to ensuring fair, transparent and honest business practices in the digital space, enabling genuine competition amongst suppliers while empowering consumers to make informed decisions.” 

Please refer to the media release for details.

Encl.

Annex A – Screenshots on Courts’ “sneak into basket” conduct on its website

Annex B – Screenshots of Courts’ cart-out process after changes were made

Annex C – Screenshots of the features on PRISM+’s website and the changes made 

^[1] Courts (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

^[2] Prism Tech Private Limited.

^[3] Refer to Annex A for screenshots of Courts’ “sneak into basket” conduct on its website.

^[4] CCS’s concern does not apply to free gifts that are added to cart, as consumers are not charged for them.

^[5] Although Courts refunded these customers, there may be other affected customers who are unaware or have decided not to pursue the matter.

^[6] Refer to Annex B for screenshots of the changes that were made to Courts’ carting process.