SARAWAK folk are advised to exercise extra caution to prevent themselves from being used as mule account holders.
State Crime Investigation Department (CID) chief Senior Asst Comm Wong Ing Fung advised the public not to be scammed into giving away personal documents to open bank accounts for illegal activities.
“Once Bank Negara finds out, you will no longer be able to have or open bank accounts,” she said.
SAC Wong, who was one of the panel of speakers at a town hall session in Sibu, said there was a case where Sarawakians were made mule account holders after being lured to work in Johor.
“Most victims from Sarawak are from Sibu.
“I have interviewed three victims who were recruited by a syndicate under the pretence of working for an air-conditioning servicing company in Johor, offering a salary of between RM2,000 and RM2,500 per month,” she said.
The victims, she added, were also promised free air tickets and accommodation.
Before heading to Johor, members of the syndicate escorted the victims to UTC Sibu to apply for passports, with the syndicate paying passport fees.
On arrival in Johor, the victims received employment letters from a fictitious company to open bank accounts in Johor and Singapore.
“If the victims refused to comply, the syndicate threatened not to send them back,” SAC Wong explained.
The syndicate would then take control of the bank account as well as the victim’s handphone for their vice activities.
SAC Wong said the victims were paid RM500 for acting as a mule account holder.
She added that Sarawakians had also fallen prey to overseas job scams.
Last year, state police received 18 reports from parents of 52 victims.
In the first 10 months of this year, 26 reports were filed involving 45 victims.
Police investigations, said SAC Wong, revealed that the victims were lured by promises of free accommodation and meals, with their passport fees also being paid by the suspects.
“The recruiters were individuals known to the victims.
“Some were taken as far away as South America,” said SAC Wong, adding that 90% of the reports showed people stranded in Bangkok, Thailand.
Also attending the town hall session were Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police Datuk Ibrahim Darus and Sarawak Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang. — By ANDY CHUA
