A teenager who first got into trouble with the police for committing fraud at the age of 16 was arrested again on Friday, this time for allegedly posing as the son of a rich businessman to obtain VIP credit cards.
Huang Chao-kang (黃照岡), 19, better know as Huang Chih (黃琪) reportedly spent more than NT$6 million (US$200,000) using two VIP American Express credit cards, -before he was apprehended.
Huang allegedly obtained the unlimited credit cards by pretending to be the son of Wei Ing-chou (魏應州), chairman of the food and beverage giant Wei Chuan Corp and Ting Hsin International Group, the biggest producer of instant noodles in China.
When questioned by prosecutors, Huang reportedly admitted to acquiring the credit cards by “inappropriate” means, but said he was just trying to lead a better life
Huang allegedly said that he had not had not conned anyone, having paid all the credit card bills.
He was arrested on charges of fraud and forgery, and released on Sunday on bail of NT$50,000.
It is alleged that in March Huang obtained two American Express Centurion cards usually issued only to people who spend more than US$200,000 a year.
Posing as Wei Ing-chou’s second son, Wei Hung-fan (魏宏帆), the teenager allegedly applied for and was issued with the credit cards using the English name Wilson Wei, which he came up with himself.
Huang allegedly established a luxury goods company, from which he earned NT$6.12 million, by using the two credit cards and deposited most of the money in a Mega Bank account.
American Express became aware of the spending spree and contacted the Ting Hsin Group last week.
The two cards were canceled after it was confirmed that they had been obtained fraudulently.
Huang first attracted the attention of the police when, at the age of 16, he posed as a Tarot card reader and an online consultant psychiatrist.
Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) visited Huang’s house in September 2008, reportedly for a fortune-telling session.
When asked to comment on the alleged fraud, an American Express spokeswoman said on Saturday that she needed further information, the Chinese-language China Times reported.
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