KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 – Lured by cash offers of between RM500 and RM1,000, the Federal Police have revealed that university students were among the 208,000 money laundering account holders in the country identified by the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID).
CCID director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said there were students who had willingly “sold” their bank accounts and ATM cards to fraudsters, according to the news portal New Straits Times reported today.
“The ‘price’ of a bank card and account offered by these scammers can vary from RM500 to RM1,000,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the scammer syndicates would establish the connection with the students by interacting with them on social media chats.
Some would offer cash in exchange for a bank card or online banking details, he was quoted as saying.
Raml warned university students of the consequences if they were caught by the police, saying that anyone who registered as a mule account holder would get into trouble with the law.
“Many students do not know that they can be prosecuted if the police arrest them and suspect them of being ‘mules’ or fraudsters,” NST he was quoted as saying.
Those accused in court would have a “black mark” that would stay with them for the rest of their lives as their criminal record could affect their future career prospects, Ramli was quoted as saying.
“Finding a real job after completing college will be very difficult.
“This is even more true if you want to work in the financial or banking sector… Since you have a criminal record, it becomes very difficult,” he was quoted as saying.
Ramli urged the public to be cautious and keep their banking details secret as anyone can become a messenger of fraud syndicates.
“As long as you lend or share your bank details with someone else or conduct financial transactions for someone else, it can be as simple as a request for your account number from a person claiming they forgot to bring their bank card and their family needs to transfer money to them,” Ramli was quoted as saying.