IPOH: Police have busted an online fraud syndicate using mule accounts, following the arrest of three individuals in a special operation in two locations in Perak and Selangor.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the success came from a case where a 58-year-old housewife fell victim to a phone scam on Aug 12.
He said the caller, who impersonated the authorities, claimed the victim’s bank account was involved in financial crime.
She was duped into handing over her ATM card to the syndicate which withdrew RM240,000 from the account without her knowledge.
Comm Noor Hisam said acting on information and intelligence, police conducted a special operation in Ipoh and Pandan Indah in Selangor on Sept 3.
“In the operation, police arrested three individuals believed to be members of an online fraud syndicate.
“Among their roles was recruiting individuals as ‘account mules’ to open digital bank accounts before they were misused by the fraud syndicate,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
Comm Noor Hisam said handphones containing banking applications and ATM cards were seized.
He said from initial investigations, the syndicate paid around RM200 to RM300 for each account opened using the customer’s personal details.
He said the suspects have been remanded to assist in investigations under Section 420 and Section 120(B) of the Penal Code.
“We would like to remind the public that authorities do not make phone calls asking for money to be transferred or jewellery to be handed over.
“The public is also advised not to hand over a bank account, pin number or password to other parties.
“An account owner can be charged if their account is used for a crime,” he said.
