KUALA LUMPUR: The involvement of students, who sell their bank accounts and automated teller machine (ATM) cards to scammers for a couple of hundred of ringgit, is cause for concern.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said while some students were genuine scam victims, there were some who would willingly "sell" their bank accounts to scam syndicates.
"This connection normally starts with chats on social media, or cash offers in exchange for an individual's bank card or Internet banking details.
"The 'price' for a bank card and account offered by these scammers may vary from RM500 to RM1,000," he said at the Media Prima Board of Directors Workshop here yesterday.
He said this could lead to long-term repercussions if the student gets caught by the police.
"Anyone who signs up to be a mule account is asking for trouble with the law.
"Many students don't realise that when the police arrest them on suspicion of being 'mules' or scammers, they can be charged in court.
"Anyone charged in court, even if it is a fine, the 'black mark' will remain for the rest of their life.
"Securing a proper job after completing tertiary education will be very difficult.
"More so, if one wishes to join the financial or banking sectors... It would be very hard because you have a police record," he said.
Earlier, Ramli said university students were among the 208,000 mule account holders identified by the CCID.
He reminded the public to remain vigilant and keep their bank details confidential.
"Anyone can become a mule for scam syndicates, so long as you lend, permit or provide your banking details to someone else to carry out financial transactions for someone other than you.
"It could be a simple request to provide your account number from a person claiming that he has forgotten to bring along his ATM card and his family needs to transfer money to him," Ramli said.