Police Step Up Action As Syndicates Target Students For Mule Accounts

SEREMBAN, June 16 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has intensified surveillance and preventive measures against online fraud syndicates following a rise in cases targeting university students as mule account holders.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said syndicates are becoming increasingly aggressive in targeting students, offering payments ranging from RM1,000 to RM2,000 for each bank account surrendered for use in illegal activities.

He said data from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) showed an increase in cases involving mule accounts among university students.

"Once a victim transfers money into the account, the syndicate immediately withdraws the funds before paying the account holder their commission.

"They usually go to automated teller machines (ATMs) carrying multiple bank cards to make continuous withdrawals. That is the baseline operating model of these syndicates," he told reporters after attending the Home Minister's Citra Negara: Safe School programme for the Seremban district here today.

Saifuddin said that allowing a bank account to be used by a third party for criminal transactions is now an offence under the Penal Code, following amendments made last year.

He said this trend was also detected through the 997 hotline at the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) in Cyberjaya, which coordinates operations between Bank Negara Malaysia, the CCID, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and other enforcement agencies.

In a separate development, Saifuddin said police are monitoring the spread of extremist ideologies among students, but such cases are still considered isolated.

He said police take any exposure to terrorist ideologies seriously, as it could affect public safety.

"I categorise these as isolated cases. However, no matter how small a security element is, it remains firmly on the police radar and we treat it with absolute seriousness," he said.

He said previous cases showed that ongoing exposure to materials with elements of terrorism and extremism could influence individuals to take extreme actions.

On the Citra Negara: Safe School programme, Saifuddin said it shows the government's commitment to keeping educational institutions free from threats such as crime, drugs, mental and emotional distress, extremism, and digital risks.

The programme involved 72 Form Six students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Sheikh Haji Mohd Said, 172 students from SMK Tunku Ampuan Durah, 732 students from Tunku Muhriz Form Six College, and 437 students from Kolej Vokasional Ampangan.

He said students are the primary group for early exposure to security and crime prevention modules, helping them remain vigilant against threats to their safety and the school environment.

-- BERNAMA