The Police have arrested four male youths, aged between 15 to 18, for the unauthorised use of payment cards belonging to other persons to make online purchases.
The Police received a report on unauthorised debit card transactions through the use of online sales platforms on 16 March 2016. Upon receiving the report, officers from Bedok Division immediately conducted intensive ground enquiries and apprehended the suspects the following day on 17 March 2016, after establishing their identities.
The suspects are believed to have obtained the payment card details when the cards were presented for bona fide payments at a shop. They are believed to be involved in multiple cases of payment card frauds. Items recovered and seized as case exhibits include branded shoes and other apparel. Investigations are ongoing against all four youths for the offence of Cheating with Common Intention under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment which may extend to 10 years and they shall also be liable to a fine.
Adopt the following precautions to prevent payment card fraud:
- Maintain sight of your card at all times while payment is being processed at a point of sale till;
- Check your bank statements regularly and report unauthorised transactions immediately to your bank;
- Activate selected cards for online transactions separate from point of sale transactions.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 March 2016 @ 8:45 PM