Two Malaysian men arrested for using stolen credit card info to buy luxury goods and mobile devices
Along with their accomplices, the duo used the info in a mobile payment service in Malaysia to make unauthorised transactions
SINGAPORE — Two Malaysian men, aged 22 and 29, were arrested by the Singapore police on Tuesday (16 April) for allegedly stealing credit card information to purchase luxury goods and mobile devices worth over S$28,000.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a media release on Wednesday that it was alerted to a case of suspected fraud using mobile payment service on 11 April. The two men were identified following investigations by officers from the Anti-Scam Command.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo and their accomplices had allegedly provisioned stolen credit card information in a mobile payment service in Malaysia. They later used the service to make several unauthorised transactions of luxury goods and mobile devices in Singapore.
Upon their arrests, several mobile phones, an EZ-link card, and more than S$3,000 and MYR900 in cash were seized. The police is still trying to trace the duo's accomplices.
The two men were charged in court on Thursday with abetment by conspiracy to cheat. The offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
How to keep yourself safe from fraud
Credit and debit card holders have been advised by the police to call their card-issuing banks immediately if their credit or debit cards are lost or stolen. They can also adopt the following crime prevention measures:
Do’s:
Keep credit or debit cards safe at all times;
Opt in for SMS notifications to be sent to one's mobile phone for any charges incurred on credit or debit cards; and
Check bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or unauthorised charges.
Don’t’s:
Do not click on URL links in unsolicited emails and text messages and give out credit or debit card details to unknown persons;
Do not reveal OTPs (one-time passwords) to anyone; and
Do not expose credit or debit cards. Keep them in purses or wallets until ready to make purchases.
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