Fake Foreign Student ID Scam

A 47-year-old female suspect was arrested for selling fake student identification cards.

Police had received information about her printing shop at Bencoolen Street that was reportedly selling fake student cards. On the next day, police officers raided the place and arrested her (the shop owner), retrieving various foreign student cards' templates that were believed to have been forged using the shop's computer. Printing-related items, including a computer, a cutter, some plastic lamination cards and nine counterfeit student identification cards were seized.

The suspect seemed to be selling her services, including printing and sales of the counterfeit student cards, between the price of S$25 and S$65.

Investigations against the suspect are ongoing.

As mentioned by MediaCorp channel 8 news, the buyers are using the student identification cards to purchase cigarettes.

We assume the buyers would have stated their age much older in the student cards and thus we can expect the buyers to use the fake foreign student identification cards to catch R21 movies, enter clubs and pubs, and even to take loans. The wrong usage of the cards may lead to other complications.

We believe buying and owning counterfeit foreign student identification cards are both illegal. Therefore, scammers who are currently in possession of them should think thrice before using them.

Tagged & Facebook Credit Card Scam Alert - Miyo Minako

Tagged has always been known as a social networking site that scammers favour, due to various reasons (We will write an article to summarize it in future when time allows). There is recently a new trend to combine the use of Tagged and Facebook to create a fake impression to others that the fake accounts are real.

Scammers use Tagged to recruit more friends while inviting the victims-to-be to their fake Facebook accounts.


"Miyo Minako"
http://www.tagged.com/profile.html?uid=5460797136

Tagline: hello im miyo minako u can also add me on my facebook so we can chat me there miyo minako or miyo minako@yahoo.com thanks actually i dont have msn

One of her Statuses: "Goodnight GUys... and sweet,wet dreams... just add me in fb same name thanks.."

This is the Tagged account of the "sweet-looking" girl who claims to be living in Singapore. Most Singapore residents would have used MSN. Most normal sweet and hot looking girls would not resort to dirty chats online, mentioning words like "wet dreams".


https://www.facebook.com/miyominako (changed url)


Let us explore her Facebook account.

"u want to see me and watch me while naked again get my weblink now if u want
im horny and wet now"

She has been typing similar statuses in Facebook, telling people that she is horny and asking them to get her "weblink" from her. If she is serious about giving people her "weblink" for free, why not just post the link in her status?

For those who are not aware of her messages still, she is simply a "cam girl". There are many websites in the internet that employ girls to show her bodies and follow the exact commands of horny visitors who are willing to pay. This "Miyo Minako" seems exactly like one, but with a deeper plot.

She is pretty neat for she (or he?) always makes sure she deletes the previous status before posting a new one.

She has uploaded a few albums, which makes the account more "real" than other fake profiles you can see in Facebook. One of the pictures shows that "she" is from ITE. We are not able to confirm if the photos are stolen, though it is highly possible. Anyway, this scammer has made quite a lot of effort in maintaining the Facebook profile, and has even switched to Facebook Timeline by "herself".

As we scrolling down her Facebook page, we can see that there are a few people who have posted on her Facebook wall - just a few pathetic ones though.


Lee Zhen

"hey baby can i have your link now so that i can see you again im horny baby i want to cum now.btw my card not charged thanks for telling me the truth make me happy again"






Let us explore his profile.

Judging from the photo, "he" looks more like a China man than a Singaporean. Anyway, he has only a friend - Miyo Minako.

Is he a loser or has he created the profile specially for her?

If he is just a normal pervert out in the net, he would have added many other hot girls in Facebook.










Next, we have "Weng Yan"

"hi babe im already online now can i have your link again i want to have fun now with you i want to see your hot body again babe plss send me the link again babe im not scared bcoz im not charged plss let have fun im horny babe"

Our wonderful fan of Miyo Minoko sounds similar to other fans of hers "Lee Zhen", who types without commas, full-stops, and sounds equally desperate in the exact same tune.

However, do not forget about the most important message "im not scared bcoz im not charged".


Weng Yan's profile.


Similar to Lee Zhen, Weng Yan is a loner and loser.

Needless to say, this is a fake account specially created to let Miko Minako's "fans" think that the credit card information given is safe.










Lastly, we have "Shin T Akatzki".

"hi babe thanks for the last night
can u give me your weblink again im horny now thanks for telling the truth
i go to my bank card and im not charge thanks can we have fun again now babe"

This is actually the first "Facebook user" who has posted on Miyo Minako's Facebook wall.

The difference between him and the other two "fans" is that he has separated his messages into sentences instead of simply typing straight like machine gun.

Similarly, his tune is the same and he has mentioned about "bank card not charged".


Exploring Shin T Akatzki's profile.

He has more friends than the other two - pathetic 102 though.

We strongly believe that this is the first "supporting profile" created to tell "fans" of Mino Minako to approach her to ask her for her weblink and give her their credit card information.

Thereafter, the scammer or the group of scammers who has staged this scam is simply too lazy to work on the other two profiles - to add friends or provide a bit more fake information.




Pardon us for being too "kia si" (scare to die) and not trying out her weblink. But we can assure you that after entering the weblink, you will be prompted to register an account and you have to provide your credit card information.

There are two ways for the scammer to make money, which we cannot confirm.

1. The weblink is a real cam-girls website, which the girls will strip virtually for you and do your commands. The scammer will earn commission from the web owner for making you sign up. He/she may be paid by per sign-up or a percentage of credits the victim (you?) purchases, or both.

2. Entering your credit card detail is an immediate scam. The scammer can use your information to purchase items online immediately.

Who knows... by visiting the URL she gives you, your computer or Facebook account will be hacked?

Maybe, there are more methods for the scammer to make money out of your credit card information. No matter what, you are at a loss for being fooled, thinking that you have made a real hot friend.

Let us look at two conversations with her.

December 20, 2011 

Miyo Minako
hey 

(A babe initiating chat with you? Excited?)

Someone
hi 

Miyo Minako
how are u 

Someone
not bad
you? 

Miyo Minako
im fine but a lil bit horny and bored..  

(A babe tells you directly that she's horny?! Money is dropping from heaven...)

Someone
oh 

Miyo Minako
why? 

Someone
where are you working at? 

Miyo Minako
jurong point\  

(Sounds like she knows Singapore. Initially, her profile shows something like "sales girl")

Someone
i see
you sound weird 

Miyo Minako
what u doin now 

Someone
work
you? 

Miyo Minako
nothing im alone and also bored in my room just chill and a kinda horny a lil bit..  

(Again? Need to be so direct?)

Someone
what are you going to do? 

Miyo Minako
so do u wanna try to see me tonight?  

(Even more direct, sounds like Geylang)

Someone
i think we stay quite far away

(She gives up... on a guy "without sex drive")

January 7 

Miyo Minako
hi  

(Babe messaging you again? In lady's luck?)

Someone
hi 

Miyo Minako
how are u 

Someone
good 

Miyo Minako
same here 

Someone
great 

Miyo Minako
what u doin now? 

Someone
working? or probably taking a break
how about you? 

Miyo Minako
nothing much just lying in my bed a lil bit bored alone at home.. chat with u  

(A little hint again...)

Someone
lol
bored?
sure a not?
i thought you always chat with many guys
which country are you from? 

Miyo Minako
sure...
korea my original place 

Someone
what do you work as? 

Miyo Minako
nothing  

(I thought you are working at Jurong Point?)

Someone
studying? 

Miyo Minako
nope 

Someone
wow
then doing what? 

Miyo Minako
working .. just read my wall status to know..  

(She means her "weblink" stuff)

Someone
oh.. 

Miyo Minako
why? 

Someone
how old are you? 

Miyo Minako
im 19 

Someone
19 and working as cam girl in singapore? 

Miyo Minako
just part time but no need money in cam girl 

Someone
no need money? 

Miyo Minako
yes 

Someone
how come?
you work for free? 

Miyo Minako
yup  

(Working in sexual industrial for free? YES, I "BELIEVE".)

Someone
lol. why would anyone want to work for free? 

Miyo Minako
yes 

Someone
reason? 

Miyo Minako
why u are alot of question? 

Someone
lol. nothing 

(She gives up again ever after)

She has recently changed her name to "Natalia Miyo Minako", adding the "Natalia" in front.

14th February 2013: We realise her Facebook URL has been changed to https://www.facebook.com/taliammk even though Facebook does not allow changing of the username.

DBS / POSB ATM Card Fraud Security Improvements

It has been more than a month since the DBS/POSB ATM card fraud has occured in Singapore (or rather, in Malaysia) and some security features have long been implemented.

The bank has returned all the affected customers' money in full to reduce the lost of trust. We have heard that not all banks, except banks in Singapore, would have done the same.

What DBS/POSB has lost is their reputation and a small portion of customers who are wary of the same incident happening again, but the tide will be over soon. Banks in Singapore are much more secured than banks in many other countries because of Singapore government's strong financial backup. The fact that most Singapore residents own a DBS/POSB bank account each makes the bank strong for it is easier for money transaction between the accounts; besides, many Singapore residents depend on the GIRO payment service.

The bank was quick to analyse the victims' records of their interaction with ATM machines, scaled down the search and discovered issues with two ATM machines in Bugis that had been tampered with. The company did not announce the exact ATM machines even though they had fixed the problem. Two Malaysians were also caught by Singapore police force for possession of devices that could read and steal ATM card information.

DBS/POSB has claimed that the most important security feature that would jerk the ATM card to prevent external device from reading the card when inserting into the ATM machine would slow down the process; and thus, the bank did not activate the feature in all ATM machines. Instead, they have deployed other security features, such as the CCTV.

A major security feature being implemented after the card fraud incident is the suspension of overseas withdrawal. If you try to withdraw money using your DBS/POSB ATM card at overseas, you have to call the bank to activate it. As told by an affected customer, the activation would only allow a single transaction; thereafter, the ATM card holder has to call the bank again to activate it. If you try withdrawing money three times without activating it, your bank account will be suspended.

This is a good security feature for DBS/POSB customers who do not travel out of Singapore but the smaller portion of customers would have to bear with it.

All banks in Singapore are looking at improving the ATM cards and replacement would probably be made within two years.

Meanwhile, customers should try to help the bank and themselves by observing if the ATM machines are being tampered. This is difficult since very few people are experts in the ATM's design. Customers can also change their PINs regularly, which most people would not do for they are glad enough to remember their existing numbers. However, there is one last thing that a responsible customer should do - cover the number pad and fingers when he/she is keying the PINs. Many Singaporeans would have skipped that as they are afraid of "losing face" (embarrassment) for being "kia si" (afraid to die), but nothing beats securing the PINs so that money would not be lost.

Everyone should start the ball rolling by covering their fingers with the other hand when keying their ATM PINs. Let this be a norm and not something that people should feel embarrassed for doing.

Thanks Eve Lim for the contribution.

ATM and Debit Cards Scams - DBS / POSB bank - Unauthorised Withdrawal

For the past few days, there have been reports of unauthorised withdrawal from some DBS/POSB bank users' bank accounts.

This picture belongs to one of the victims, Amanda Goh.

The money was used or taken in Malaysia. Each transaction also deducted SGD $5 from the owner's account since it was done in overseas as a service charge by the bank(s). The owners' original ATM/debit cards were still with them.

There are some possible reasons why this has happened. The bank or merchant stores that accept the card payment may be hacked, or maybe, someone has duplicated the ATM / debit card, possibility during the process of payment.

All POSB/DBS bank users are advised to check their bank accounts daily for the next few days or weeks until any security loophole is being found and fixed.

The DBS / POSB bank has announced that they would return the "stolen" money back to the owners and thus users are advised not to panic and start withdrawing all money from their bank accounts.

Should anyone suspect that his/her ATM or debit cards may have been compromised should contact the bank immediately on 1800-220-1111 or visit any DBS/POSB branch.

Electronic Pickpocketing - Credit Card Scam

It's called electronic pickpocketing and security expert Walt Augustinowicz says relatively new technology designed to make your purchases more convenient could put your credit card number at risk.


In a mall in New York City, Augustinowicz showed INSIDE EDITION's Paul Boyd how it can happen. In a matter of seconds, he effortlessly pickpockets four unsuspecting shoppers without ever laying a finger on their purses or wallets.


Now, you should always be on alert whenever someone places something near your pocket or bag, or wherever you keep your wallet at. It can be a scam to steal your credit card information. It can happen in overseas and it can also happen in anywhere if you are using similar credit cards.