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The Police have arrested a 34-year-old Brazilian man for suspected possession  of cloned Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) cards. 

On 10 November 2025, the Police received a report of an individual using suspicious cards to make cash withdrawals from an ATM. 

Through extensive ground enquiries and follow up investigations, officers from the Central Police Division established the identity of the individual and arrested him within nine hours of receiving the report. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man allegedly attempted to use 15 suspected cloned ATM cards to make cash withdrawals. Cash amounting to over $2,000, 66 suspected cloned ATM cards, and a mobile phone were seized from the man as case exhibits. 

The man will be charged in court on 12 November 2025 with the offence of unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both. 

The Police take a serious view of any persons who may be involved in the production and possession of cloned payment cards, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. 

Members of the public are also advised to be prudent when making online payments using their card details, to only visit reliable websites for online shopping, to safeguard their card details and not to disclose sensitive banking information with anyone. If credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, members of the public should  immediately call their card-issuing banks. Members of the public are encouraged to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

Do’s

• Keep your credit or debit cards safe with you at all times;
  
  
• Opt in for SMS notifications to be sent to your mobile phone for any charges incurred on your credit or debit cards; and
  
  
• Check your bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or unauthorised charges.

Don’ts

• Do not click on URL links in unsolicited emails and text messages and give out your credit or debit card details to unknown persons;
  
  
• Do not reveal your OTPs to anyone; and
  
  
• Do not expose your credit or debit cards. Keep them in your purse or wallet until you are ready to make your purchases.
  
  
  

Photo of cash seized from the man



Photo of suspected cloned ATM cards seized from the man