Hong Zepeng, a 30-year-old man from China, has pleaded guilty to nine charges of cheating by conspiracy and one charge of obstructing justice in a high-profile fraud case in Singapore. Hong was involved in a sophisticated scheme to defraud Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) by purchasing tickets using stolen credit and debit card details.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gladys Lim highlighted that Hong’s actions were part of a broader trend where foreign syndicates were sending individuals to Singapore to commit property offences, particularly using stolen card information. The case involved premeditation and the use of a specialized app that enabled Hong to communicate with syndicate members and make contactless payments at RWS ticket kiosks.
The fraudulent activity began when Hong, recruited by a man known only as “Boss” through the Chinese social media app Douyin, was sent to Singapore with instructions to buy Universal Studios Singapore (USS) tickets using stolen card details. Hong was promised 1,000 yuan (approximately S$185) for his participation.
Between October 4 and 10, 2023, Hong entered Singapore, and on October 11, he used 34 different credit and debit cards to purchase 116 USS tickets worth S$9,875 from five ticket kiosks. Despite suspecting that the card details were stolen, Hong continued with the fraudulent transactions. Afterward, he stored the tickets in a locker at USS.
Hong’s scheme was eventually discovered when a complainant noticed him loitering and using the kiosks for an extended period. The individual confronted Hong, who then contacted his recruiter, who instructed him to delete the app containing evidence of their communication. Hong complied, and the police were unable to recover data from the deleted app.
During his trial, Hong admitted his guilt and explained that he turned to fraud due to financial struggles after losing his job in China. He expressed concern for his family, particularly his wife, who was left to care for their three children. However, DPP Lim emphasized that personal circumstances could not mitigate the seriousness of his crime, stressing that Hong’s actions contributed to a larger criminal network.
Hong’s case follows a pattern of foreign nationals being involved in credit card fraud schemes in Singapore, which have led to at least $300,000 in losses. Authorities continue to investigate these networks, with 178 reports of fraudulent transactions since October 2023.
Hong is scheduled for sentencing on December 8, and DPP Lim has called for a stiff and deterrent sentence to send a clear message against such criminal activities.
