Taiwanese Man Arrested in Singapore Credit Card Fraud Case, Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison

(Taiwan News Correspondent Wu Sheng-Hung, Singapore, 16th) Singaporean police have recently cracked a credit card fraud case, arresting a 28-year-old Taiwanese man and two Singaporean men. Police stated that in recent years, foreign nationals have been acting as 'runners' for fraud syndicates, and under Singapore law, convicted fraud offenders may face up to 10 years' imprisonment, fines, and caning.

According to press materials released by the Singapore Police Force, police received a report on the 10th from a victim who discovered two unauthorized transactions on their credit card, totaling SGD 5,697 (approximately NT$140,000).

Through interviews and surveillance footage, police identified the 28-year-old Taiwanese suspect. The man used a mobile application to load stolen credit card data onto his smartphone and made unauthorized purchases of iPhones at retail stores using NFC (Near Field Communication) contactless payment.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was directed by overseas orchestrators to use stolen card data to purchase electronic devices and gold jewelry. He then handed the items to two 24-year-old Singaporean men, who in turn passed them to unidentified individuals within Singapore. All three suspects were arrested within 48 hours of the initial report.

The three men have been charged under Sections 420 and 109 of the Penal Code (1871) for 'Conspiracy to Commit Cheating.' If convicted, they face up to 10 years' imprisonment, along with fines, caning, or both.

Additionally, according to Lianhe Zaobao, over 40 Malaysian nationals were arrested and prosecuted in Singapore last year for serving as fraud 'runners.' This year, within less than six months, the number has already exceeded 30, with most involved in impersonating government officials in scams. In April, Singapore saw its first case of a fraud runner sentenced to caning: a 23-year-old Malaysian man, after pleading guilty to accepting a job to collect money for 'investors' in Singapore, was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and one stroke of the cane.

Starting December 30, 2025, fraud offenders, syndicate members, recruiters, and those assisting in money laundering or handling illicit proceeds may face caning—between 6 and 24 strokes for core offenders, and up to 12 strokes for money-handling runners.

Tong Chen-Yuan, Taiwan's representative in Singapore, recently warned that Singapore imposes severe penalties on fraud runners. Fraud crimes not only severely damage personal prospects and credit but may also result in long-term imprisonment and heavy fines. He urged the public not to fall for fraud syndicates' rhetoric or accept job offers promising 'quick money,' as such actions could turn individuals into tools of criminal organizations. (Editor: Tang Sheng-Yang) 1150616

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