By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Jan 17: Allowing someone to use your bank account for “extra benefits” is breaking the law. Even if you have no direct involvement in what your “renter” does.
This is what happened to a young woman identified only as Lau, who lent her friend three ATM cards in exchange for RM200 from each bank account, resulting in an ongoing police investigation against her.
According to Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaint Bureau chief Milton Foo, the 21-year-old woman is a “mule account” holder who lent three ATM cards to a friend, resulting in the rest of her bank accounts being frozen as well.
A “mule account” is a bank account that someone has given others access to by handing over the pin numbers for their ATM cards or their online banking password.
“Lau expected to receive a total of RM600 from the three bank accounts she lent, as she was experiencing financial difficulties at the time.
“She has two young children, so she believed she could purchase food and other necessities for them with the RM600.
“As a result, she made the decision to lend her ATM cards to a friend. Unfortunately, she received a letter from Sungai Buloh Police Station in Selangor, informing her that the police are investigating a scam case involving her under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” Foo told reporters today at a press conference held next to the Padungan police station here.
He pointed out lending someone a personal bank account is illegal and a violation of the Penal Code.
“If you are found guilty, this is a serious police case that will be investigated because you are assisting and abetting the scammers.
“Of course, you could be as innocent as you are without your intention or knowledge. However, the fact that you lent your ATM card to other people, causing people to lose money, means that you have been used or exploited by scammers.
“Therefore, I urge the general public to be vigilant and cautious, and to never share their bank information or lend their ATM card to family or friends for any reason,” he asserted.
In addition, Foo revealed that Lau’s scam case is related to an incident allegedly involving a mule account scam that occurred on Oct 25, 2022.
A 21-year-old man had fell victim to the scam in April last year via social media where he was told by a woman that if he “rented” his bank account to an unknown company, he could earn RM200 per month.
Lau mentioned that the 21-year-old man was the friend to whom she had loaned her ATM cards. — DayakDaily
