KUCHING: A total of 2,354 mule bank accounts have been identified by Sarawak police from January to June this year.
Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Sapri said these accounts were involved in online purchase and part-time job offer scams, and other scams amounting to more than RM40 million in losses.
The syndicates target fresh graduates, housewives, pensioners, and individuals who are unemployed and also those in need of quick and easy cash.
“The Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) have been leading the cases and have arrested and charged 444 account holders in court between January and June,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak Police Contingent headquarters today.
He said account holders were promised between RM50 and RM1,000 to surrender their bank accounts to the syndicates.
He said the mule account holders, however, claimed that they did not know their accounts were used by the syndicates until they were arrested by the police.
In most cases, within 30 minutes, the money could be transferred through several levels via online banking to other bank accounts locally or overseas.
Mohd Azman advised the public not accept job offers that require them to surrender their bank accounts and ATM cards.
“Offenders of mule accounts could be charged in court under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetment; Section 411 of the Penal Code for dishonestly receiving stolen property; Section 424 of the Penal Code for dishonestly or fraudulently assisting in the removal or concealment of consideration; or Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating,” he said.
