Categories: Latest NewsSingapore

S’porean Cheats Amazon & Google S$7.6M Worth Of Cloud Services, Jailed 10 Years

Singaporean Man Cheats Amazon & Google By Impersonating 2 People

When it comes to scams, swindlers often target the vulnerable. However, it seems even big corporations can be vulnerable to these threats too.

On Thursday (23 Jun), Singaporean man Ho Jun Jia, 32 was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for cheating Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google of S$7.6 million in cloud computing services.

He apparently did so by impersonating two people whose personal information he obtained illegally on the Dark Web.

Man cheats Amazon and Google by impersonating co-founder of Riot Games

According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Ho collected the personal and credit card information of 70 people from a Dark Web forum. One of the victims was Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill.

Source: Riot Games

After gaining access to his American Express bank account and linking it to an email address he created, Ho registered a new AWS account under Mr Merrill’s credit card.

By impersonating him, AWS was deceived into delivering cloud computing services to him on more than 40 occasions between 4 Nov 2017 and 28 Jan 2018.

Similarly, he created a Google Cloud Platform account in Mr Merrill’s name and deceived Google into providing him with cloud computing services.

Eventually, both companies suspended the accounts when payments did not went through.

Using the same modus operandi, he cheated AWS S$29 (US$21) worth of cloud computing services after obtaining another man’s details.

 

In Oct 2019, Ho was charged with identity theft and wire fraud in the US.

Sentenced to 10 years’ jail for cheating Amazon and Google

The Straits Times (ST) reported that Ho was sentenced to 10 years’ jail on Thursday (23 Jun).

He pleaded guilty to 12 charges including cheating, unauthorised access to computer material, and drug consumption.

District Judge Brenda Tan said,

Given the magnitude of his offending, the extent of harm caused and the sophistication employed, deterrence is the dominant sentencing consideration

Furthermore, she noted that Ho did not make restitution for the S$7.6 million he cheated from his victims.

Currently, Ho is out on a S$180,000 bail, which his father paid for. The District Judge had allowed him to defer his sentence by one month to settle his personal affairs.

He suffered the consequences of his own actions

The method Ho used to cheat huge companies like Amazon and Google was definitely sophisticated and complex.

Unfortunately, his methods were used for underhanded means and he eventually paid the price for it.

Hopefully, this case serves as a reminder that justice has long arms and dishonesty will always be punished.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image by MS News.

Sarah Kamal

Sarah is a Linguistics buff who starts every day with a cup of Earl Grey rose lavender tea.

Recent Posts

‘Tiger Candy’ contains erectile dysfunction medicine, may cause painful & exceedingly long erections: SFA

It has been marketed online as a candy that helps with male sexual enhancement.

23 Nov 2024, 12:11 am

Pop Mart pursuing legal action over unauthorised use of Labubu images by certain brands

"POP MART does not have any official licensed partners in Singapore," it said.

22 Nov 2024, 11:25 pm

Heavy rain on 22 Nov causes flash floods in Yishun & Potong Pasir, 127.7mm recorded in northern S’pore

51% of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in November fell in northern Singapore over less than…

22 Nov 2024, 10:27 pm

Pilot treats passengers to pizzas after emergency landing causes hours-long delay in the US

He made sure all the passengers were served before taking a slice for himself.

22 Nov 2024, 6:32 pm

Woman in China grows ‘trident’ flesh on fingernail, apparently due to improper & frequent manicures

The doctor recommended a 2-week gap between manicures to allow nails to recover.

22 Nov 2024, 6:08 pm

Loyal pet dog in China tracks owner’s scent for 16km to reunite with her in hospital

The dog stayed with its owner until she was discharged.

22 Nov 2024, 6:04 pm