11-07-2025
Ten held in Brunei for alleged involvement as money mules
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Cyber Crime Investigation Division under the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) has detained 10 individuals for allegedly acting as money mules in connection with fraudulent activities.
According to the RBPF, the suspects are believed to have knowingly shared their bank account credentials—including passwords and access codes—with criminal syndicates, enabling illicit financial transactions in exchange for monetary rewards.
'Money mules' or 'account mules' refer to individuals who provide access to their bank accounts to be used by others, often for the purpose of receiving or transferring funds derived from scams and fraud.
Preliminary investigations revealed that most of the suspects were unemployed and had agreed to participate in the scheme to earn between BND50 and BND100 weekly.
Some of the individuals are also suspected of aiding unauthorised access to computer systems, further compounding the severity of the offences.
The suspects, aged between 23 and 48, are being investigated under Section 8 of the Computer Misuse Act, Chapter 194, which prohibits providing account access for the purpose of fraudulently transferring money.
If convicted, offenders may face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine not exceeding BND10,000, or both.
The RBPF has reminded the public to remain vigilant and not to share personal banking information with unknown individuals or parties. Assisting in fraudulent transactions, even passively, is a serious offence under the law. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
