According to him, students are being recruited to allow their bank accounts to receive money from victims, before the funds are quickly withdrawn by syndicates.
SEREMBAN: Scam syndicates are targeting university students by offering between RM1,000 and RM2,000 to use their bank accounts as mule accounts, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the tactic is among the latest online fraud trends detected by the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
According to him, students are being recruited to allow their bank accounts to receive money from victims, before the funds are quickly withdrawn by syndicates.
“Most cases involve university students. The syndicates only offer to use their accounts and, in return, they are paid about RM1,000 to RM2,000.
“When victims transfer money into the accounts, the syndicates will immediately withdraw the money before paying the account holders,” he told reporters after the Citra Negara MDN: Sekolah Selamat programme at Kolej Tingkatan Enam Tunku Muhriz today.
Saifuddin said syndicate members typically operate by using multiple ATM cards at automated teller machines, withdrawing cash repeatedly, which he described as the most basic operating model used by such groups.
He said the trend has become a serious concern as commercial crime data shows online scams are increasing at a worrying rate, including cases involving the use of mule accounts among university students.
He added that Form Six students are also being warned, as they are only one step away from entering university, making early awareness important before they become targets of such syndicates.
“This is why I think this is the right time to deliver this message,” he said.
Saifuddin said the government has also amended the Penal Code to make it an offence for individuals to allow their bank accounts to be used for financial transactions linked to criminal activity.
“Previously, under the law, an individual who allowed his account to be used by another party for financial transactions did not commit an offence.
“Now, such an act is an offence and action can be taken under the Penal Code following the amendments we made last year.”
Earlier, Saifuddin said the Sekolah Selamat programme aims to raise awareness among students on threats including physical bullying, gangsterism, sexual harassment, drug abuse, cyberbullying, extremism and online scams.
The programme involved Form Six students from four schools in Seremban: SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Mohd Said, SMK Tengku Ampuan Durah, Kolej Tingkatan Enam Tunku Muhriz and Kolej Vokasional Ampangan.
