Kuala lumpur: The police have cracked down on thousands of mule accounts being misused for online fraud, leading to more than 2,000 arrests, in two large-scale operations conducted nationwide. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa disclosed that 1,303 individuals suspected of involvement in mule account activities were arrested under ‘Operasi Mule NSRC’ conducted from September 22 to 28.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the highest number of arrests was in Sarawak, with 272 people, followed by Sabah with 200, Kuala Lumpur with 137, and Selangor with 115, while the remaining arrests were made in other states. A total of 778 investigation papers were opened as part of the crackdown.
“Of the total, suspects in 270 of the investigation papers (35 per cent) have been charged in court under the Penal Code, including sections 420 and 424,” said Rusdi during a special press conference. The operation was executed in conjunction with the launch of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) to combat commercial crimes involving the use of fake accounts to receive money from online fraud.
In a separate operation, Operation Merpati, conducted from September 2 to 12, resulted in the arrest of 790 individuals for having bank accounts used for e-commerce fraud. An additional 30 individuals were arrested for operating call centres for fraudulent activities nationwide.
“The 790 individuals arrested consist of 475 men and 315 women, including four foreigners from Indonesia and Bangladesh,” Rusdi noted, adding that e-commerce fraud from January to May this year caused losses exceeding RM54 million. For Operation Merpati, a total of 660 investigation papers were opened, involving losses of more than RM11 million, with 41.7 per cent of the cases already filed in court, while the rest remain under investigation.
Rusdi emphasized that the two operations demonstrate the CCID’s commitment to combating online fraud, which is becoming increasingly sophisticated and crossing state borders. He also reminded the public not to lend or sell bank accounts and ATM cards to other parties, as such acts can be misused for criminal activities and money laundering.