Man bought credit card details online to buy milk powder and sell on Carousell
SINGAPORE — A man who bought the details of stolen credit cards online to purchase and sell milk powder through online platforms was sentenced to 20 months’ jail on Thursday (16 May).
John Foo Chi Yang, 27, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of unauthorised access to computer material, with another 50 similar charges under the Computer Misuse Act taken into consideration for sentencing.
Foo, who is currently studying for a business degree at Singapore University of Social Sciences, came across a website that sold the details for between US$25 (S$34) and US$35 per card. He used Bitcoin to purchase them, and also contacted other individuals who sold the illegally-obtained details on other platforms.
He then purchased “underground” prepaid cards from a peddler and created several accounts on Honestbee, an online merchant platform which provided food and grocery delivery services, in order to purchase milk powder and other items.
He used the pre-paid cards to remain anonymous. To avoid detection, Foo would also wear a surgical mask to receive the items.
From 13 August 2017, Foo would buy items from Honestbee, the bulk of which consisted of milk powder, and later sell them on Carousell.
The items he sold included popular milk formula brands such as Enfagrow, Wyeth, Friso Gold, Similac, and Dumex Mamil Gold. He also bought other items such as soft drinks and sweets.
His transactions amounted to $20,899.46.
Foo was arrested in October 2017, two months after the start of the offences. A list of all the credit card details he purchased, as well as his chat exchanges with those he bought the details from, were found in his computer.
‘Elaborate, sophisticated scam’
Deputy Public Prosecutor Thiagesh Sukumaran sought 24 months’ jail for Foo, who carried out an “elaborate, sophisticated scam” which showed a “large degree of premeditation and planning”.
The prosecutor said that Foo’s plea carried little mitigating weight in light of the number of charges he faced, which showed that he was a “serial offender”.
Foo’s lawyers, Josephus Tan and Cory Wong from Invictus Law, said that Foo had made full restitution for the unlawful transactions.
The lawyers pointed out that their client’s psychiatric reports showed that he had a low propensity for reoffending.
The defence lawyers asked for 15 months’ jail for Foo.
District Judge Luke Tan noted that Foo had taken steps to avoid detection.
“From (court documents), it is clear that it was an elaborate, sophisticated scheme.”
The whole plan was well thought through and well executed, I must say. Unfortunately these are all crimes,” said the judge.
