PADAWAN: The district police headquarters (IPD) here recorded fewer non-existent loan scam cases this year compared to last year.

From Jan 1 to Oct 16 this year, the police recorded a total of 17 cases involving losses amounting to RM600,000, compared to last year’s number of 36 cases involving RM430,000 losses in the same period.

This shows an increase of RM170,000 in losses between this year and last year’s figure.

Padawan OCPD Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the losses suffered by victims, are the profits of cyber criminals through mule accounts.

“Mule account is a contributor to cybercrime cases as the syndicates will never lose the profits as long as the account is under their control.

“Most of the victims of non-existent loan scams are aged between 20 and 55.

“Life struggles due to economic instability and financial constraints, are among the reasons victims fall for and are deceived by non-existent loan advertisements and offers,” he said.

Abang Zainal said the modus operandi is to advertise personal loan offers through Facebook by offering attractive and easy terms, without guarantors, quick approval and no loan limit.

Without questioning, the victims followed the suspects’ instructions by providing personal documents and confidential banking details, including making payments to the mule account, which is supposedly for deposit, collateral money and so on.

He added that the mule account happens due to negligence of the account owner as they have allowed a third party namely a scam syndicate, to use their account number to commit cybercrimes.

“Cheating is classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which can be punished with a jail sentence for a term up to 10 years, whipping, and a fine.

“Meanwhile, for mule account crimes, it is classified under Section 37(1) of the Sarawak Minor Offenses Ordinance 1957 and if convicted, it can be punished with a three-month jail term and a fine of RM500,” he said.