Taiwanese man arrested at Far East Plaza after defrauding 7-Eleven stores with $1,100 in gift cards
A 26-year-old Taiwanese man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in credit card fraud.
The police said in a statement that they received a call regarding a suspicious credit card transaction attempt at a mobile phone store in Far East Plaza on Feb 26.
Officers from Tanglin Police Division responded and arrested the man at the scene with the assistance of the store owner and the mall's security officers.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man arrived in Singapore earlier that day and was allegedly working for an overseas criminal syndicate.
He is believed to have used the contactless payment method, also known as near field communication (NFC) mobile payments, linked to stolen credit card details to make fraudulent purchases at various locations in Singapore.
The modus operandi is believed to have defrauded multiple businesses, with the man successfully purchasing Razer Gold eGift cards worth a total of $1,100 from various 7-Eleven stores prior to his arrest.
These cards and three mobile phones were recovered and seized.
The man will be charged in court on Feb 28 with the offence of conspiracy to cheat.
The offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
The police remind members of the public that unauthorised use of another person's credit or debit card is a serious offence and take a serious view against any person who commits fraud.
Pepetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Members of the public are advised to call their card-issuing banks immediately if their credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, and to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- 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;
- Check your bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or unauthorised charges;
- 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 One-Time Password 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.
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;
Check your bank statements and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or unauthorised charges;
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 One-Time Password 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.
