Uncertain future: Ong (right) speaking to the 19-year-old university student’s grandfather who is worried about her future. — Courtesy photo
JOHOR BARU: A 19-year-old university student may face criminal charges after allowing a close friend to use her bank account for what she initially believed was a harmless transfer.
She only realised her friend’s true motives after her account was frozen over suspected scam-related transactions – but by then it was too late, as the friend was no longer contactable.
The young woman from Tangkak had agreed to help her female friend, who claimed her own bank account was facing problems, said MCA Youth national education consultative committee chairman Ong Chee Siang, who recounted the case.
However, she was unaware that she was being used as a mule account, he said in an interview.
“The incident happened in September last year when the teenager’s friend asked for RM900 to be transferred into her bank account, before instructing her to withdraw the money and pass it back,” he said.
“The student did as requested. The next day, the friend told her that another transfer had been made into her bank account by mistake and asked her to help transfer RM1,500 to a business account.”
Several days later, the bank contacted the student to inform her that her account had been frozen due to suspected scam activity.
Ong said the student lodged a police report and was shocked to find out that she had been listed as a suspect in the case.
“However, the victim, who was busy with her studies, did not follow up with the matter until her 68-year-old grandfather sought my assistance after learning that investigations had been completed and she could be prosecuted in court soon.
“If convicted, she could face fines and have a criminal record, which would have long-term consequences on her future, including her employment prospects and financial credibility,” he said.
Ong said there had been similar cases in Johor, with many bank account holders unknowingly becoming entangled in scams.
“Many youths think they are just helping a friend but they end up in legal trouble when their accounts are misused for scams or money laundering.”
Failure to cooperate promptly in investigations could also result in them being viewed as accomplices, he added.
Ong said he had received numerous complaints from youths whose bank accounts were frozen after they ‘lent’ their accounts to friends who claimed they needed help transferring funds.
He outlined three common scenarios: victims who thought they were merely helping their friends who needed a “transit account”; those who knowingly allowed their bank accounts to be used in exchange for commissions for each transaction, or those who somehow ended up handing over their ATM cards and bank details to others.
“They are often told that the worst consequence is just a fine, and that someone else will help pay it. That is untrue.”
He stressed that the consequences could include their bank accounts being frozen, difficulty opening accounts in future, fines, imprisonment and also a criminal record.
People, he said, should not allow their friends, relatives or others to use their bank accounts, particularly when the source of funds or the recipients are unknown.
“If you are being emotionally blackmailed or pressured, go straight to the police,” he added.
