S’porean man, 42, arrested in Melaka after allegedly cloning debit cards for Japan black market

A 42-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in Malaysia on Apr. 23 following his alleged involvement in a syndicate producing cloned debit cards.

The man was caught at a condominium in Melaka during a raid at around 1:15pm, reported New Straits Times (NST).

According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), he had allegedly copied the cards for sale within the Japanese black market.

Allegedly transferred data from debit cards to fake cards

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed that officers discovered 227 Visa debit cards linked to Laos-based Joint Development Bank and other items believed to be used for producing counterfeit cards.

According to FMT, these include a computer, four handphones, a laser cutter, a glue gun, two Bank of Monaco debit cards, a debit card printer, S$3,378 and RM5,500 (S$1,657).

Early investigations revealed that the counterfeit cards bore names of Japanese nationals and were likely meant for distribution within the Japanese black market.

The man had reportedly been renting the unit since January 2025 and is believed to have used it as a cloning facility.

He had allegedly received debit cards from an undisclosed third party via courier and used the specialised equipment to transfer data from original cards onto the clones.

The fake cards were then enhanced with premium or platinum status, complete with chip and magnetic stripe functionality.

They were later tested using terminal machines before being shipped out to customers.

In return, the man earned S$3,800 monthly.

Currently being investigated for multiple offences

The man is currently held on a five-day remand, with authorities planning to apply for an extension.

Authorities are investigating him for cheating, unlawful possession of payment instruments and breaching the terms of his immigration pass.

Top photo via Canva