'Ghost tapper' arrested in Little India for allegedly using device to steal shoppers' bank card data

A 42-year-old male "ghost tapper" was arrested on Sunday (Oct 18) for his involvement in the use of an electronic device to allegedly steal bank card information from shoppers at a retail establishment in Little India.

Ghost tapping is a form of contactless fraud where someone uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to make unauthorised transactions or misuse stolen payment credentials.

This is done by holding such devices close to a victim's pocket or bag containing the "tap-to-pay" card or device.

Police said in a news release on Tuesday morning that they were alerted after security officers at the establishment detained the man for his suspicious behaviour at a retail establishment along Syed Alwi Road.

According to the police, their preliminary investigations revealed that the man had been moving suspiciously around the premises and standing in close proximity to customers.

He allegedly did so while carrying a bag containing an electronic device. The man was also seen positioning his bag near customers' pockets containing their wallets.

Security officers at the establishment then detained the man and handed him over to officers from the Central Police Division, who found an electronic device, two power banks, a mobile phone and several bank cards in the man's possession.

The 42-year-old was arrested and the items seized as case exhibits.

He will be charged in court on Tuesday for illegally obtaining personal information, an offence which carries a penalty of up to three years' jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

The police said that they take a serious view of such offences and advised members of the public to remain vigilant and safeguard their personal information, including bank card information, from unauthorised access or collection.

"Offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law," they added.

一名 42 岁的男性“幽灵窃听者”于周日（10 月 18 日）被捕，他涉嫌使用电子设备从印度小城一家零售店的购物者那里窃取银行卡信息。

幽灵支付是一种非接触式欺诈，有人利用近场通信 (NFC) 技术进行未经授权的交易或滥用被盗的支付凭证。

这是通过将此类设备靠近受害者装有“非接触式支付”卡或设备的口袋或包来实现的。

警方周二上午在一份新闻稿中表示，他们接到报警，称赛义德·阿尔维路一家零售店的保安人员因该男子行为可疑而将其拘留。

据警方称，初步调查显示，该男子在店内形迹可疑地走动，并靠近顾客。

据称，他当时携带一个装有电子设备的包。有人还看到他将包放在顾客口袋附近，那里装着他们的钱包。

该场所的保安人员随后拘留了该男子，并将其移交给中央警署的警员。警员在该男子身上发现了一个电子设备、两个充电宝、一部手机和几张银行卡。

这名42岁的男子被逮捕，这些物品被作为案件证据扣押。

他将于周二在法庭上被控非法获取个人信息，该罪行最高可判处三年监禁、1万美元罚款或两者并罚。

警方表示，他们对这类犯罪行为高度重视，并建议公众保持警惕，保护个人信息（包括银行卡信息）免遭未经授权的访问或收集。

他们补充说：“违法者将依法受到严厉惩处。”