The Police have arrested five men, aged between 18 and 27, for their suspected involvement in using found debit/credit cards to make unauthorised transactions in two separate cases.
In the first case, on 28 February 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who discovered that several unauthorised transactions had been made with his missing credit and debit cards.
Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identities of the four men, aged 18 to 19, and arrested them on 11 May 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the four men are believed to have found the victim’s wallet which contained several credit and debit cards and used the cards to make unauthorised transactions amounting to more than $6,000. Apparels, shoes, EZ-Link stored value cards, which are believed to have been purchased using the victim’s credit and debit cards, and the victim’s identification documents, which were found in the possession of one of the men, were seized as case exhibits.
In the second case, on 1 May 2020, the Police received a report from a victim who discovered that several unauthorised transactions had been made with his missing credit card.
Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of a 27-year-old man and arrested him on 12 May 2020. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to have found the victim’s credit card and used it to make unauthorised transactions amounting to more than $300.
Police investigations are ongoing. The office of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 10 years and a fine. The offence of dishonest misappropriation of property under Section 403 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 2 years or a fine, or both.
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, and to adopt the following measures to prevent 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; and
- Check bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or fraudulent charges.
Case Exhibits Seized In The First Case
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 May 2020 @ 12:15 PM