The Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for his suspected involvement in using stolen credit card information to make unauthorised transactions.
On 11 March 2022, the Police received a report from a victim who discovered that several unauthorised transactions had been made to his debit card.
Through investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 19 April 2022. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had purportedly obtained the victim’s credit card information by fraudulently taking photos of the said debit card without the victim’s knowledge. The man then allegedly used the victim’s debit card to make online in-game purchases and to pay for medical consultation fees amounting to more than $1,200.
The man will be charged in court on 21 April 2022 with illegally obtaining personal information and access with intent to commit cheating. The offence of illegally obtaining information, punishable under Section 416A of the Penal Code 1871, carries an imprisonment term that may extend to three years and a fine. The offence of access with intent to commit cheating, punishable under Section 4(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 read with Cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871, carries an imprisonment term that may extend up to 10 years, a fine not exceeding $50,000, or both.
The Police would like to remind members of the public that the unauthorised use of another person’s credit or debit card is a serious offence and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Police would like to advise all credit/debit card holders to call their card-issuing banks immediately if their credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, or when they discover any unauthorised transactions made. Members of the public are advised to adopt the following measures to prevent the unauthorised use of their cards:
- Opt for an SMS notification to be sent to your mobile phone for any charges incurred on your credit/ debit card
- Check bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or fraudulent charges; and
- Do not give out your credit/ debit card details to strangers
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 April 2022 @ 10:50 AM