MILTON Foo and the victim showing the bank statements and various police reports made.
KUCHING: A 37-year-old coffee shop worker who used to be a kueh seller from Padawan has found herself blacklisted and facing criminal charges after unknowingly allowing her bank account to be used as a mule account.
In a press conference with SUPP public Complaint Bureau Chief, Milton Foo, the victim, Bong, married with a four-year-old child said she befriended a woman, Wong in her 40s about a year ago.
Sometime in October 2024, Wong asked to use Bong’s identification card to open a bank account for her son, who is in his 20s for his personal use.
Believing that she was helping a friend, Bong allowed her IC to be photographed and even signed digitally on her phone. She never physically went to the bank for verification and was told all bank documents and bank debit card would be sent directly to her friend’s son.
From October 2024 to August 2025, Bong never received any bank statements but was shocked to receive a lawyer’s letter from Kuala Lumpur on August 27 demanding repayment of RM15,500.
Bong immediately lodged a police report at Sungai Maong police station, stating she never cheated anyone or called anyone for money.
However, she later received court summonses in Kuala Lumpur asking her to appear in court. She was called to the Siburan police station and placed under arrest for using her account as a mule account.
Wong then bailed Bong out and allegedly threatened Bong not to inform her family, warning she would be harmed if she did.
Bong then reached out to Milton Foo for help and showed him all related documents.
“This is clearly a case of her account being used as a mule account. It is a serious offence under Section 424(C) of the Penal Code if your account is to be used for fraud,” Foo said.
Foo checked further in the bank and revealed that more than RM600,000 had been transferred in and out through Bong’s account, with money deposited by victims and diverted to other companies.
He cited an example where a scam victim from KL deposited RM18,900 on December 12, but the money was quickly split and transferred into two companies on the same day.
“The problem lies with the banks. How can an account be opened so easily without the person’s physical presence? Scammers are exploiting these loopholes, and that is why cases are so rampant,” he stressed.
Foo advised Bong to lodge another detailed police report against her friend and the friend’s son for investigation and not for reference.
He also urged the public not to hand over their ICs or personal details carelessly.
“Now Bong is blacklisted and facing criminal charges. This is a big issue that must be investigated thoroughly to prevent future scams” he said.
By Connie Chieng