A 24-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly using hijacked credit cards to make over $2,700 in unauthorized transactions.
Police said they received a report on June 22 from a victim who discovered multiple unauthorized transactions made using her missing credit cards.
Through investigations, agents from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of the suspect and arrested him on Thursday July 7.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the man found the victim’s cardholder in an empty package containing several credit cards,” police added.
“He then allegedly used two of the credit cards to make a total of 33 unauthorized transactions amounting to over $2,700.”
A pair of shoes, five bottles of perfume and four bottles of facial products purchased with the credit cards were recovered and seized as exhibits.
The holder of the card containing several credit cards was also found and seized as an exhibit.
The man will be charged in court on Friday with cheating, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine.
Police reminded the public that unauthorized use of another person’s credit or debit card is a serious offence, adding that they take anyone who commits fraud seriously.
“The perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” they said.
All credit and debit cardholders are advised to immediately call their card-issuing bank if their card is lost or stolen and to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
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Keep your credit or debit cards safe with you at all times;
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Call your card-issuing bank immediately if your credit or debit cards are lost or stolen;
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Opt for an SMS notification to be sent to your mobile phone for all charges incurred on your credit or debit cards; and
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Regularly check your bank statements and alert the bank immediately in the event of discrepancies or unauthorized debits
