Mule accounts are those suspected to be used by others to collect or transfer funds stolen or laundered from illegal activities, said Bank Negara Malaysia's Link Department Deputy Director, Hasjun Hashim.

She pointed out that the ripple effect of having one''s account classified as a mule is severe.

"If a single account has been identified as a mule, all linked accounts will be closed. When this happens, there is a potential loss of jobs and diminished opportunities for the account holder's children,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Commercil Crime Investigation Department''s (CCID) statistics revealed a 37% rise in online crimes between January and November.

The figures rose from 23,608 cases to 32,366, with a corresponding increase in the value of losses reaching RM1.13 billion or a 46% rise compared with 2022.

Speaking during the 2023 National Anti-Scam Tour in Putrajaya recently, Hasjun said so far, 43,000 mule accounts have been closed in the country.

Deputy Director Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation, Bukit Aman CCID, SAC Zaldino Zaludin, who also spoke at the event, said scammers constantly change their modus operandi to employ a mix of old and new techniques.

"Our vulnerability lies in our willingness to engage with unknown callers or reply to messages from unfamiliar people." Zaldino said the proliferation of fake links and deceptive advertisements is a significant threat and advised social media users to be extremely cautious.”

He said victims fall for scams because they often overlook subtle discrepancies.

He urged the public to report scam incidents promptly so the authorities can freeze fraudulent transactions, as a first step to recover lost funds.

Read futher on The Sun article attached.