[lookanddiscover]

Credit card gang busted, five held Wed, Feb 10, 2010
New Straits Times


Police have smashed a major fake credit card syndicate in the northern region following the arrest of five people including two women. The suspects were caught with 33 credit and automated teller machine (ATM) cards on them. The credit cards were registered under the names of other people, including several overseas cardholders.

State Commercial Crime Department chief Assistant Commissioner Roslee Chik said from the suspects had abused the cards and gone on a spending spree in several states over the past three months.

"The suspects used the cards to splurge on an array of branded and electrical items. The victims suffered substantial losses and lodged police reports," said Roslee.

He said police had also confiscated several electrical items, women's handbags and high-end mobile phones that had been purchased by the suspects.

He did not rule out the possibility that the syndicate had swiped the cards to their maximum limit of up to RM20,000 (S$8,276) per card.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 35, were rounded up from the basement car park of the Prangin Mall, Komtar, about 7pm last Thursday.

Two of the suspects were nabbed for possession of the cards and further checks by the police uncovered electrical items stored in their car boot.

The suspects have been remanded until today to assist in investigations.