The Maldives Police Service issued a public warning yesterday, advising against renting out bank accounts or granting control of accounts to third parties for a fee.
The appeal comes amid a rise in cases where scammers utilize bank accounts to circulate illicitly obtained funds.
According to the police, there has been a surge in advertisements on social media platforms such as TikTok and Telegram, offering "daily wages" in exchange for bank account access.
Authorities identified this as a tactic used by fraudsters, noting that allowing others to use a personal account constitutes participation in the laundering of criminal proceeds, effectively acting as a "money mule."
Highlighting the legal risks involved, the police emphasized that the account holder is legally responsible for every transaction conducted through their bank account.
The police further noted that those involved in such activities face severe penalties under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act.
Authorities warned that individuals implicated in these schemes may have their bank accounts frozen and could be blacklisted from the financial system.
The public is urged to report any suspicious activity immediately by contacting the police emergency hotline at 911 or the Anti-Scam Center at 125 (extension 2020).
