INTERPOL TO TRACK DOWN M'SIAN TEENAGE GIRLS IN CREDIT CARD FRAUD

By P. Vijian

CHENNAI, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- 'Charlie's Angels' they are not, but three
Malaysian teenage girls will soon have a date with Interpol over their links to
an international fake credit card syndicate based in South India.

While the teenagers have returned to Malaysia after majoring in cosmetology
courses at colleges in this southern city, Chennai police have uncovered their
link to a Sri Lankan, believed to be the syndicate mastermind.

Working for the Sri Lankan, the police discovered that while pursuing the
courses, the Malaysians were given fake credit cards to purchase expensive goods
here.

They were paid 5,000 Indian rupees (RM500) for each transaction.

Following a tip-off last week, the police arrested the 25-year-old Sri
Lankan
-- now a Canadian citizen -- who spilled the beans on the Malaysian girls who
worked for him.

As the girls have returned to Malaysia a few months ago, Chennai police
alerted
Interpol to track them down.


Chennai Police (special crime division) Deputy Commissioner C. Sridhar
told
Bernama Saturday that the girls were used by the syndicate leader to purchase
jewellery and cell phones worth nearly 50 lakhs (RM500,000).

He said that for each transaction, the girls were paid about 5,000 Indian
rupees (RM500).

"Surely, the girls were part of the gang. We are now in the process of
ascertaining their actual names, addresses and college names.

"Once we have this information, we will seek Interpol's assistance to
investigate the girls," added Sridhar.

He said that upon interrogation, the Sri Lankan told Indian sleuths that his
group obtained empty credit cards belonging to Malaysian banks via courier, but
did not reveal further details of his Malaysian nexus.

Later, he printed names on the empty cards in his rented house in Porur,
located in the suburbs of Chennai.


Besides the Sri Lankan, Chennai police have also detained a Singaporean and
several Indian nationals, all suspected to be linked to the highly-organised
fake credit card ring operating in South India.

Meanwhile, the Times of India reported that the Sri Lankan had fixed spy
cameras on the girls' handbags to recce potential shops and monitored via a
mini-television inside his car, from where he gave instructions through mobile
phones.

"Once inside, they were told what to buy and to approach a particular
billing counter manned by young boys who would not scrutinise the credit card
too well.

"This, the Sri Lankan felt, would help the girls complete their mission,"
reported the Times, quoting a police officer in Chennai.

-- BERNAMA