Three men aged between 25 and 36 have been arrested in Singapore for their suspected involvement in a transnational scam syndicate that allegedly used stolen debit and credit card details to purchase more than S$9,000 worth of IT equipment and mobile phones.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said the men were arrested following investigations into suspected payment fraud involving high-value electronics. The items allegedly purchased included graphics cards and smartphones.
The case came to light on 26 October, when police received a call for assistance from a retail shop along Rochor Canal Road at around 7.45pm.
Man Returned To Shop To Buy More IT Equipment
According to police investigations, the 36-year-old suspect had earlier purchased two graphics cards worth more than S$2,700 using a mobile wallet.
About an hour later, he returned to the store and attempted to purchase additional IT components valued at over S$4,000.
The man’s repeated visit raised suspicions among shop employees, who alerted security officers. The officers detained him before contacting the police.
Investigations subsequently revealed that the suspect had allegedly received instructions through a mobile application to make purchases of high-end electronics.
After completing the transactions, he would reportedly pass the items to accomplices waiting in a getaway vehicle before returning to the shop to make further purchases.
Two Accomplices Arrested At Changi Airport
Following further investigations, officers from the Central Police Division identified two other suspects, aged 25 and 27, who were allegedly involved in the operation.
The pair had left the area in a rented vehicle after the incident. They were later arrested separately in the transit area of Changi Airport on 27 October, before they could leave Singapore.
Police investigations also found that the two men were allegedly involved in at least one other payment fraud case at a separate retail outlet.
During the operation, officers seized two GeForce RTX 5070 graphics cards, an iPhone 18 Pro Max and several other mobile phones as case exhibits.
The seized items are expected to form part of the evidence in the ongoing investigations.
Men Face Charges Of Conspiracy To Cheat
The three suspects were scheduled to be charged in court on 28 October with abetment of conspiracy to cheat under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code 1871.
If convicted, the offence carries a potential jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The case highlights how stolen payment card details and fraudulent mobile wallet transactions can be used to obtain expensive electronic goods, potentially exposing retailers to substantial financial losses.
Businesses handling high-value electronics may face risks from suspicious purchasing patterns, particularly when buyers repeatedly attempt large transactions using digital payment methods.
Police investigations into the case are ongoing.