The Police have arrested three men, aged between 19 and 23, for their suspected involvement in using stolen credit card information to make numerous unauthorised mobile wallet top-ups and purchases amounting to more than $22,000.
On 13 April 2019, the Police were alerted to a case of possible fraud activities on mobile wallet accounts. Through follow-up investigations, officers from Commercial Affairs Department arrested the three men on 15 April 2019.
Preliminary investigations revealed that since March 2019, the three men are believed to have made numerous unauthorised mobile wallet top-ups using stolen credit card information. Ten new mobile phones with accessories, an assortment of apparels, several packs of candy, which are believed to have been purchased using the mobile wallets, cash amounting to more than $8,400 and another ten mobile phones were seized as case exhibits.
The men will be charged in court on 17 April 2019 with abetment by conspiracy to cheat under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine.
The Police would like to advise all credit and debit card-holders to adopt the following measures to prevent unauthorised use of their cards:
- Opt for SMS OTP verification for online purchases or charges to your credit / debit cards;
- Opt for an SMS to be sent to your handphone for any charges incurred on your credit / debit card;
- Check the bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or fraudulent charges; and
- Do not give out credit / debit card details to unknown persons.
Case Exhibits Seized
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 April 2019 @ 8:45 PM