29YO Man Jailed 4 Mths for Trying to Make Easy Money With Credit Card–Swiping Scam

In an ideal world, McSpicy’s would be as nutritious as broccoli and money would drop from the sky into our bank accounts anytime we needed it.

We could all quit our jobs and binge-watch shows on Netflix while eating McSpicys (or maybe McDonald’s new Chick ‘N’ Cheese burger?) until we melt into a puddle of goo.

In the real world, however, you have to work for your money.

Unless, of course, you’re fine with cheating people and spending time behind bars.

Then good for you!

Promoter Attempted to Steal Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars Through Credit-Card Swiping Scam

That’s exactly what Goh Jun Xi, a promoter for a music lounge, did in 2014.

At the time of his offences, Goh was 22 and working at DOM Entertainment, which was fully owned by Luxe Hospital Pte Ltd.

Its chief operating officer, Damen Chiam, was also involved in the scam.

Around the end of January that year, Goh met a male customer at DOM and introduced him to Chiam.

A few days later, the customer called Goh and asked for his help to ask Chiam if he was interested in a credit-card swiping scam, through which “DOM could earn just by swiping the cards.”

The customer said he had a stack of credit cards which were from abroad and did not belong to him.

Chiam and Goh talked about their fears of getting caught, and had two options at this point:

1. Realise that the plan is dumb and abandon it
2. Realise that the plan is dumb and abandon it

But of course, they picked neither and decided to go ahead with the scam.

Switched Off CCTV Cameras

On 2 February 2014, Chiam instructed DOM’s operation manager to tell all staff members to leave the premises and switch off the CCTV cameras.

Chiam then brought two unknown individuals over to the cashier and asked how to operate the point-of-sale terminal.

Chiam and these two others then swiped multiple cards at the terminal, using them to complete “purchases” of S$6,402.90 each from DOM.

But their offences came to light when a fraud analyst with OCBC Bank noticed the suspicious credit card transactions made at DOM and lodged a police report.

She told police that 33 different credit cards—two of which had been reported stolen earlier—had been swiped for 67 transactions, amounting to S$260,448. All but one were declined.

Further investigations later revealed that 10 of the cards had been reported lost or stolen, or were counterfeit.

Fled Singapore When Investigations Commenced

Goh fled Singapore to Cambodia when investigations commenced in November 2015, but was detained at Changi Airport when he returned three years later in July 2018.

Two years later, Goh was caught for drink-driving along Jalan Sultan.

He had 76mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is more than double the prescribed limit.

On Tuesday (27 Apr), the now 29-year-old man was sentenced to four months in jail and a fine of S$6,000,

He was also disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for three years.

His accomplice Chiam was dealt with in court last year.

There really is no such thing as easy money.

Feature Image: fotografos / Shutterstock.com