LUNDU: Police have arrested two local men believed to have acted as mule account holders for separate online scam syndicates, with the cases linked to victims in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan.
The suspects, aged in their 30s and 50s, were detained by the Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) in separate operations on July 14 and 15.
Lundu police said the first suspect, arrested on July 14, is believed to have allowed his bank account to be used in two scam cases in which fraudsters impersonated the victims’ friends and acquaintances through WhatsApp.
The scams resulted in total losses of RM9,700, with police reports lodged at Klang District Police Headquarters (IPD) in Selangor and Brickfields IPD in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the second suspect, arrested on July 15, is believed to have been involved as a mule account holder in a non-existent loan scam promoted through Facebook.
The victim in that case lost RM5,560, with the report lodged at the Seremban IPD in Negeri Sembilan.
Police reminded the public not to hand over their bank account details, ATM cards or other financial instruments to anyone, as they could be misused in online scam activities.
Individuals found acting as mule account holders may be prosecuted under Section 424C of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM150,000, or both.
