Used fake credit card to pay cable company

A man, who attempted to swindle more than $600,000 from telecommunications company Flow. was slapped with six months' imprisonment for the offence in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Allegations are that the convicted man, Roshan Shaw, who pleaded guilty, used a fake credit card to make payments for Flow services online to the tune of some $600,000.

investigations

Shaw, 27, then contacted the company and requested a refund of the previous transaction with the fake card. A cheque for the refund was made out to Shaw.

Fraud Squad detectives, who described Shaw as a major player in the credit-card scam arena, said further investigations, however, revealed that the credit card he had used to carry out the transaction was fake. The cheque was subsequently cancelled and the matter reported to the police. The fraudster was then picked up by the police and charged with forgery, attempting to obtain money by reason of forged document, and other fraud-related charges.

The investigating officer in the matter said that before being arrested, Shaw made subsequent attempts to convince Flow that the card was not fake, in a bid to have the company release the funds.

suspended sentences

When he appeared in court, the six-month custodial sentence was not the end of Shaw's troubles. The accused, who was also charged with larceny from a dwelling and obtaining credit by fraud for two separate incidents, was slapped with two 18-month suspended sentences.

Shaw was charged with larceny after he allegedly removed the furniture from a furnished apartment he had rented and obtaining credit by fraud after using a fake credit card to purchase petrol at a gas station.