Combating Criminal Activity: The Dangers of Facilitating Bank Account Transactions

In recent days, Hanoi City Police have released information that there have been cases of subjects renting and purchasing bank accounts on forums and groups for the price of 500 thousand to 1 million VND. These accounts are then used for fraudulent purposes such as asset appropriation, and money laundering through a variety of different methods.

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According to Hanoi Police, recently, the crime of defrauding and appropriating property on the Internet has become very complicated with many new and sophisticated tricks.

Specifically, subjects often use bank accounts purchased or sold to make transactions to transfer and receive money from victims, then “launder” money in many different ways.

In which, the subjects often post information on forums and social networking groups about renting, buying bank accounts or contacting low-income workers, people with little legal knowledge or college and university students to rent opening a bank account to receive wages for the price from 500 thousand to 1 million VND.

After opening an account, the account holder must hand over Internet banking login information, phone number for registering the account, bank card, etc. to the subject to use for illegal acts, especially acts of fraud and appropriation of property.

Hanoi Police recommends that people be very careful in managing their personal information and bank accounts, avoiding supporting criminals or getting involved in illegal acts.

In many cases, the account holder can be considered an accomplice of the subject or will be prosecuted for “Illegally collecting, storing, exchanging, buying, selling, and disclosing information about bank accounts” as prescribed in Article 291 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended in 2017).

“People need to keep their personal information confidential by not sharing personal information or bank account information with strangers on the Internet” – The Department of Cyber Security, and the prevention and combating of high-tech crimes of Hanoi Police recommended.

Besides, be wary of attractive offers, and say no to all offers to “rent” or “sell” bank accounts for financial gain.

If any activity of buying and selling bank accounts is detected, citizens should immediately report it to the police agency for handling and settlement.

In addition, people need to strengthen the updating of information, warnings from functional agencies, and at the same time learn about the risks and legal consequences related to “renting” and “selling” bank accounts to avoid becoming victims of crime.

Thanh Hà