Three men, including a Taiwanese national and two Singaporeans, have been arrested in Singapore over an alleged payment fraud syndicate involving stolen credit card details.
The case came to light after a victim discovered almost S$5,700 worth of unauthorised transactions on his credit card.
Police managed to arrest all three suspects within 48 hours of the report being lodged.
Victim Loses Nearly S$5,700 In Unauthorised Transactions
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the victim filed a police report on 10 June after discovering two unauthorised transactions amounting to S$5,697.
Officers from the Central Police Division launched investigations, conducting extensive ground enquiries and reviewing footage from CCTV and police cameras.
These investigations eventually led authorities to identify a 28-year-old Taiwanese man.
Suspect Allegedly Used Stolen Card Details To Buy 3 iPhone 17 Pro Max Devices
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Taiwanese man allegedly used a mobile application to load stolen credit card details onto his phone.
He then allegedly used Near-Field Communication (NFC) payments to fraudulently purchase three units of the iPhone 17 Pro Max from a retail store.
Police also believe he was acting under the instructions of an overseas handler.
Apart from the iPhones, investigators said he allegedly purchased other items including electronic devices and gold jewellery using stolen payment details.
The items were then allegedly handed over to two Singaporean men, both aged 24, who subsequently passed them to unknown recipients within Singapore.
Police Seize S$57,000 Cash, Phones And Gold Jewellery
Authorities arrested all three suspects within two days of the victim filing the report.
During the operation, police seized:
- Approximately S$57,000 in cash
- Mobile phones and digital devices
- Gold jewellery
- Wireless earphones
- Various items believed to have been fraudulently obtained
Investigators believe all three men were involved in the same fraudulent scheme.
Trio Charged In Court
On 13 June, all three men were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Cheating under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, they could each face:
- Up to 10 years’ imprisonment
- A fine
- Caning
SPF Warns Public To Protect Their Payment Details
Police reminded members of the public that using another person’s credit or debit card without authorisation is a serious offence.
SPF also advised cardholders to:
- Enable SMS or app notifications for every transaction
- Never share One-Time Passwords (OTPs)
- Avoid clicking suspicious links in unsolicited messages or emails
- Contact their bank immediately if they notice unauthorised transactions
As fraud syndicates become increasingly sophisticated, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and regularly monitor their bank and card statements.