Latest news with #BestDenki
The Star
08-07-2025
- The Star
Man jailed for buying at least 20 iPhones worth S$40,000 using credit card details of scam victims
Zhang Tianyu (in white) was part of a transnational scam syndicate that cheated retailers such as Best Denki, iStudio and Challenger. - ST SINGAPORE: A man has been jailed after he came to Singapore and used the credit card details of scam victims to buy more than $40,000 worth of mobile phones. Zhang Tianyu, 29, was part of a transnational scam syndicate that cheated retailers such as Best Denki, iStudio and Challenger. On July 8, the China national was handed a 30-month jail term after pleading guilty to cheating and acquiring property which represents benefits from criminal conduct. In November 2024, Zhang's friend Zhao Yongzhi asked him if he wanted to work in Singapore for a salary of 15,000 yuan (S$2,600). Zhang agreed, and both men flew to Singapore that month. While in Singapore, Zhang was given a mobile phone installed with an app that allowed the credit card details of fraud victims to be remotely added and used for contactless transactions. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicole Teo said these card details were mostly obtained from victims of phishing. Over three days, Zhang used the credit card details to buy 20 iPhone 16 mobile phones worth over $40,000 from iStudio at Bugis Junction, Best Denki at Funan, and Best Denki and Challenger at Plaza Singapura. He also followed Zhao to sell the phones to an unknown individual, and received an envelope containing $22,500 in cash to take back to their hotel room. Seeking 36 to 40 months' jail, DPP Teo said Zhang's offences were transnational and syndicated in nature, and noted how elaborate and sophisticated the scheme was. In mitigation, defence lawyer David Nayar urged the court to impose a jail term of 20 months. Nayar said his client had come to Singapore to try out a job recommended by Zhao to earn money, and was initially unaware of the illicit nature of the activities. 'He expressed the desire to leave at first and not be involved in this scheme, but he was convinced to stay, as much had been spent to get him to Singapore. He foolishly agreed and regrets his actions,' said the lawyer, noting that Zhang did not receive the 15,000 yuan salary he was promised. In response, the prosecution said Zhang's decision to offend should not be characterised as a spur of the moment decision, given that his offending behaviour was carried out over three days. In June, Zhao was charged with cheating and acquiring cash which directly represented benefits from criminal conduct. His case is still before the courts. The police had previously warned of an emerging trend of foreigners being sent to Singapore by syndicates to commit credit card fraud, targeting retailers across the island. Retailers are advised to look out for customers who attempt to make several contactless payments, and when some transactions fail, they would try a different mobile phone or card. If found cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Those who acquire property which represents benefits from criminal conduct can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Man jailed for buying at least 20 iPhones worth $40k using credit card details of scam victims
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Zhang Tianyu (in white) was part of a transnational scam syndicate that cheated retailers such as Best Denki, iStudio and Challenger. SINGAPORE - A man has been jailed after he came to Singapore and used the credit card details of scam victims to buy more than $40,000 worth of mobile phones. Zhang Tianyu, 29, was part of a transnational scam syndicate that cheated retailers such as Best Denki, iStudio and Challenger. On July 8, the China national was handed a 30-month jail term after pleading guilty to cheating and acquiring property which represents benefits from criminal conduct. In November 2024, Zhang's friend Zhao Yongzhi asked him if he wanted to work in Singapore for a salary of 15,000 yuan (S$2,600). Zhang agreed, and both men flew to Singapore that month. While in Singapore, Zhang was given a mobile phone installed with an app that allowed the credit card details of fraud victims to be remotely added and used for contactless transactions. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicole Teo said these card details were mostly obtained through from victims of phishing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue: Report Business ShopBack to scale up its payments business as it gets major payment institution licence Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Singapore Grab to trial driverless shuttle for staff between Media Circle office and one-north MRT station Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Over three days, Zhang used the credit card details to buy 20 iPhone 16 mobile phones worth over $40,000 from iStudio at Bugis Junction, Best Denki at Funan, and Best Denki and Challenger at Plaza Singapura. He also followed Zhao to sell the phones to an unknown individual, and received an envelope amounting to $22,500 in cash to take it back to their hotel room. Seeking 36 to 40 months' jail, DPP Teo said Zhang's offences were transnational and syndicated in nature, and noted how elaborate and sophisticated the scheme was. In mitigation, defence lawyer David Nayar urged the court to impose a jail term of 20 months. Mr Nayar said his client had come to Singapore to try out a job recommended by Zhao to earn money, and was initially unaware of the illicit nature of the activities. 'He expressed the desire to leave at first and not be involved in this scheme, but he was convinced to stay, as much had been spent to get him to Singapore. He foolishly agreed and regrets his actions,' said the lawyer, noting that Zhang did not receive the 15,000 yuan salary he was promised. In response, the prosecution said Zhang's decision to offend should not be characterised as a spur-of-the-moment decision, given that his offending behaviour was carried out over three days. In June, Zhao was charged with cheating and acquiring cash which directly represented benefits from criminal conduct. His case is still before the courts. The police had previously warned of an emerging trend of foreigners being sent to Singapore by syndicates to commit credit card fraud , targeting retailers across the island. Retailers are advised to look out for customers who attempt to make several contactless payments, and when some transactions fail, they would try a different mobile phone or card. If found cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Those who acquire property which represents benefits from criminal conduct can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.
Geek Culture
03-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Culture
Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders For Singapore Starts 9 June
Ahead of its launch date on 26 June in select Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in Singapore will start from 9 June, with the console being available on both physical and digital storefronts. Pre-orders for both the base console alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will be available via the following retailers: Best Denki : In-store and online : In-store and online Challenger : In-store and online : In-store and online Courts : In-store and online : In-store and online Gain City : In-store and online : In-store and online Harvey Norman : In-store and online : In-store and online Popular : In-store and online : In-store and online Toys 'R' Us : In-store and online : In-store and online Takashimaya : In-store only : In-store only Nintendo Official Store Singapore – Lazada : Online only : Online only Nintendo Official Store Singapore – Shopee : Online only : Online only iShopChangi : Online only : Online only Krisshop : Online only : Online only Metapod: Online only The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for pre-orders in Singapore starting from 9 June 2025, with local pricing being unveiled on the same day. Before you drop the cash, be sure to check out 10 things you need to know about Nintendo's upcoming console. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Nintendo Nintendo Switch Nintendo switch 2
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Retailers must adapt to modern consumer behaviour
Recently, I visited Best Denki intending to make a straightforward purchase: a $75 standing fan I had found on its website. Armed with screenshots and optimism, I arrived at the store, only to discover the same model priced $30 higher in-store. When I inquired, the sales staff tersely informed me that 'online and in-store prices are different'. No offer to match the price. No attempt to explain or assist further. I walked out with no fan, and a reminder of why traditional retail in Singapore is facing an uphill battle. Many retailers fail to understand or embrace the concept of omni-channel shopping – the seamless integration of online and offline experiences that today's consumers expect. In an age where consumers do their research online before stepping into a store, why is physical retail treated as a separate, siloed universe? The fan, identical in make and model, should not cost more simply because it sits under fluorescent lighting instead of appearing on a web browser. The dismissive attitude I encountered also highlighted the absence of any meaningful customer service training or empowerment. Retailers must invest in staff training, upgrade digital infrastructure and align pricing across platforms. True omni-channel commerce doesn't just offer convenience, it builds loyalty. A retailer who makes it easy for me to complete my purchase, no matter the channel, wins my business not once, but repeatedly. Until then, I will keep shopping elsewhere. Retailers who fail to adapt to the realities of modern consumer behaviour should not be surprised when foot traffic dwindles and sales plummet. Tuan Ming Lee More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Straits Times
Jail for man linked to syndicate who bought iPhones worth over $13k with victims' bank card details
Quek Jian Qing brought to the cashier counter in Best Denki store at Parkway Parade by police on Nov 14, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Jail for man linked to syndicate who bought iPhones worth over $13k with victims' bank card details SINGAPORE - Two Malaysians were recruited by unknown individuals in a syndicate and were told to travel to Singapore to buy multiple iPhones using an 'Apple Pay' application. The app was linked to virtual credit or debit cards belonging to others which could be used to make contactless payments. The prosecution said that after making the purchases, the pair – Quek Jian Qing, 21 and Yong Huo Ying , 25 – were told to sell the iPhones in Singapore and hand over the proceeds to a person, known only as 'MK', in Malaysia. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lewis Tan added that Quek and Yong were each promised up to RM3,000 (S$900) for their roles in the offences. On May 20, Quek, who bought seven iPhones worth more than $13,000 in total, was sentenced to three years and 10 days' jail. He had pleaded guilty to six charges, including four counts of cheating. Six other charges were considered during his sentencing. Yong's case is still pending. DPP Tan told the court that the pair were in Malaysia on Nov 7, 2024 when MK provided Quek with a Samsung mobile phone that had 'Apple Pay' pre-installed. Court documents did not disclose how the syndicate got hold of the victims' card details. The Samsung phone was specifically intended for Quek to make contactless payments for the iPhones. Quek and Yong met up in Malaysia the next day and they took Quek's car to Singapore via the Woodlands Checkpoint. Later that day, Quek bought an iPhone worth $1,899 at an Apple store at Marina Bay Sands and used the app to pay for it. A 39-year-old Singaporean woman's credit card details were linked to the platform and he made the purchase without the victim's knowledge. After that, Quek left the store, as he did not want to trigger any suspicions. The woman, identified in court documents as A1, received an SMS alert from her bank about the transaction and she lodged a police report soon after. DPP Tan said: 'A1 confirmed that the transaction was not authorised by her, and that she did not lose or provide anyone else with her bank details.' Using the credit card details of other victims in the 'Apple Pay' app, Quek went to other places that same day, including an Apple store in Orchard Road, and bought six more similar iPhones. DPP Tan said: 'Quek and Yong then sold the seven iPhones for $1,520 each and conspired to transfer some of the sale proceeds (totalling $3,040) to a Singapore bank account provided by the syndicate. 'But for the prompt intervention of the local enforcement authorities who arrested Quek and Yong as they attempted to leave Singapore for Malaysia on the same night, (the pair) would have been able to leave Singapore with the remaining proceeds – $7,600 in cash.' On May 20, DPP Tan noted that Quek and Yong had come to Singapore for the specific purpose of buying the iPhones with the victims' credit card details. He stressed that the offences were planned and premeditated, and had urged the court to sentence Quek to at least three years and one month in jail. Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times' court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
