2 men arrested for using found credit card and stolen credit card info in separate cases

Two men, aged 19 and 31, have been arrested for allegedly using a found credit card and stolen credit card information to make unauthorised transactions in two separate cases.

In the first case, the police said in a statement they received a report on Feb 27 from a victim who discovered that several unauthorised transactions had been made with her missing credit card.

Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of a 19-year-old man and arrested him on Mar 2.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man who worked as a waiter had allegedly misappropriated the victim's credit card and later used it to make unauthorised transactions amounting to more than $3,000.

Items that the suspect purportedly purchased using the victim's credit card include a mobile phone, a haversack, a T-shirt, some transaction receipts and the victim's credit card were recovered from the man's possession and seized as case exhibits.

In the second case, the police received a report on Feb 24 of unauthorised transactions made on a taxi booking phone application.

Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established the identity of a 31-year-old man and arrested him on Mar 3.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly made unauthorised transactions on the taxi booking application amounting to more than $500.

One mobile phone was seized as a case exhibit.

The two men will be charged in court on Mar 4.

The offence of cheating carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The offence of unauthorised access to computer material under the Computer Misuse Act carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

The police added in their statement they would like to remind members of the public that unauthorised use of another person's credit/debit card is a serious offence.

Credit and debit cardholders are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

• Keep your credit or debit cards safe with you at all times;

• Call your card issuing banks immediately if your credit or debit cards are lost or stolen;

• Opt for an SMS notification to be sent to your mobile phone for any charges incurred on your credit or debit card; and

• Check your bank statements regularly and alert the bank immediately should there be any discrepancies or unauthorised charges.