Over the weekend, videos of a mysterious “lightning ball” in Tampines, Pasir Ris, and Yishun swept across social media. The purple orb, dubbed a “lightning ball” by netizens, appeared to float in midair, striking anything in its path.
The first video, posted on TikTok by @sundayannab1 on 19 September, featured dashcam footage of a car ride, with a female passenger heard urging the driver to pull over. The clip has since amassed 3.7 million views and 137,000 likes.
Subsequent videos showed the same purple orb at Pasir Ris Park at night and a void deck in Yishun. In the comments, netizens were split: some speculated it was a genuine “ball lightning” phenomenon, while others claimed it was AI-generated. Others made light of it, jokingly comparing the orb to Pokémon characters or Mobile legends: Bang bang.
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Yesterday (22 September), multi-currency mobile wallet YouTrip revealed on Instagram that the viral sightings were part of its campaign to unveil its birthday mascot, Trippie.
In a video, the orb travels from Tampines, Pasir Ris, and Yishun before arriving at Jewel Changi Airport, where it strikes a green luggage bag. The bag bursts open to reveal three purple dinosaurs (YouTrippie, OniTrippie and Baby Trippie), leaping out excitedly and ready to explore the world.
In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, YouTrip said that its always looking for fresh, creative ways to connect with its users.
“Beyond the common love for travel and great deals, we notice Singaporeans have a keen interest in unique and mysterious sightings. By tapping into that natural curiosity, we managed to be attention-grabbing in today’s digital-overload environment and generate organic excitement for our upcoming birthday celebration,” explained YouTrip.
This isn’t the first time YouTrip has pulled off such a stunt. In April, the brand released videos of mysterious purple clouds over Johor Bahru, which went viral on TikTok with over three million views. The campaign coincided with the launch of its new MYR wallet, with promotions including free shuttle rides across the causeway and 3% cashback on MYR transactions for customers spending a minimum cumulative amount of S$200.
According to YouTrip, these campaigns succeeded because they captured attention in a playful yet relatable way, showing how YouTrip brings innovation not just through its products, but also through experiences and stories it shares with its community.
“Ultimately these efforts reinforce our mission of empowering people to explore the world with ease and embrace the joy of new experiences,” it added.
Following the stunt, YouTrip will be celebrating its anniversary with its users through a series of upcoming initiatives planned surrounding Trippie, including limited-edition blind boxes when users spend a minimum of S$300 and a Trippe hunt from 30 September to 14 October.
A special birthday pop-up will also take place this weekend at Ngee Ann City basement 2 with exclusive merchandise, games, photo opportunities and complimentary donuts by Mister Donut.
“Making travel seamless, rewarding, and inspiring is at the heart of everything we do. Beyond simplifying cross-border payments, YouTrip strives to create experiences that capture the magic and excitement of travel itself,” said Kelvin Lam, chief operating officer, YouTrip.
“This campaign reflects our commitment to connecting with our community in unexpected ways—sparking conversations, fueling wanderlust, and empowering everyone to seek greater adventures,” he added.
These types of stunts are becoming increasingly common, with brands such as Lazada joining the fray. A recent four-part TikTok series by @sixthsensemagic captured Singaporeans’ attention with a viral “cheating scandal” — though it was entirely staged. The videos, released in late August, follow an anonymous woman discovering her husband’s supposed affair, including late-night WhatsApp messages, mysterious purchases, and a confrontation outside a HDB block.
A few days later, Lazada revealed the series was part of a campaign for its “9.9 mega brands sale.” The final clip showed the twist: the husband was simply hiding Lazada purchases to avoid overpaying, and the woman arrived with her own boyfriend and a trolley of boxes. The stunt concluded by encouraging viewers to check out Lazada and redeem vouchers of up to S$99, highlighting how playful, narrative-driven content is increasingly being used to drive engagement and sales.
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