IPOH: For the promise of RM500 every month, Lee Chin Yiew agreed to open bank accounts for a new acquaintance.
However, the 44-year-old odd-job worker from Taman Saikat here ended up getting arrested several times, investigated for being involved in a cheating scam, and jailed over a year in total.
Lee told a press conference here organised by Perak Barisan Nasional public service and complaints centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah, that his friend Ah Fatt introduced him to a man called Sunny in 2018.
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Sunny told Lee about the money-making opportunity, which sounded too good to pass up considering his low and unstable income stream, mainly from handing out flyers.
"I was told to open accounts with (three different banks) and received RM1,200 from Sunny.
"A few months later, the same year, policemen came to my house and accused me of being involved in a cheating scam.
"I was brought to the Kajang police station, locked up and then charged in court," he said on Friday (March 15), adding that he realised then that his bank accounts were being used as mule accounts.
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"I was also sentenced to three months in jail.
"After being released, I tried to call my friend and Sunny to get an explanation but could not reach them," he said, adding that he subsequently lodged a report against both men.
"I managed to close the accounts in two of the banks but was not given any reason why I was unable to close the account at the third," he added.
Lee said his nightmare did not end there, as he was arrested again in 2019, 2020 and 2023.
"I have been in and out of jail and served more than a year in prison.
"I regret being too trusting, as I had wasted a lot of (my life)," he said.
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"I have also been blacklisted by banks and cannot open any more accounts.
"I asked for this press conference to warn people to be careful and not to do what I did," he added.
Mohd Rawi said scam syndicates often target the unemployed, senior citizens or low-income earners.
"They will bring them to banks to open accounts for scams, gambling activities and even money laundering.
"I urge banks to do background checks before allowing anyone to open an account. Get to know where their income will come from or if a third party asked them to open the account," Mohd Rawi added.
