ICA responds to queries about identity card said to be fake, saying no such NRIC issued

SINGAPORE - The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Friday that it has not issued any NRIC with the number S6963118A, after questions were raised online about an allegedly fake identity card.

The ICA issued the statement in response to media queries about a post on popular online forum Hardware Zone, that showed that a man of Chinese nationality was using a blue IC with the number S6963118A.

The post has attracted nearly 100 comments, with many readers pointing out that the man's NRIC is not authentic. Some questioned how the man obtained a fake IC.

One post read: "How to know if his NRIC is fake? Just see the serial number for his year of birth S69.... It is completely off! He is born in 1988 and NRIC issued in 2007, how can he have a S69 serial number!? Even the address and thumbprint is so fake!"

According to the post on Thursday, the man, "Wang Rongbing", was born in 1988 and issued the blue IC in 2007. Blue ICs are held by Singapore Permanent Residents.

In its statement, ICA said that under the National Registration Act, any person who knowingly has or makes use of a forged NRIC or a NRIC other than his own is guilty of an offence. If convicted, he or she can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

ICA has a service called 'iEnquiry' on its website that lets members of the public verify if NRICs are valid. Anyone with more information can lodge a police report at any Neighbourhood Police Centre or Neighbourhood Police Post.

ateng@sph.com.sg

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