To circulate illegal funds and conceal their identities, criminals need to collect and use multiple bank accounts. To achieve this, they use the tactic of “borrowing others’ identities.” By posting advertisements such as “easy job with high pay,” “need someone to receive money,” or “bank account rental needed,” they target students, young people, or the elderly, promising high payments to persuade victims to open accounts in their names or provide information, and hand over ATM cards or Internet banking access.

Many people mistakenly believe that renting out unused bank accounts or opening accounts on behalf of others is normal and not against the law. In addition, receiving a relatively large amount of money makes it easier for them to fall into the trap. In reality, the person whose name is on the account, even if not directly committing the crime, may still be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution if the account is linked to illegal activities.

Bkav cybersecurity experts recommend that people:

• Do not open, rent out, buy, or sell bank accounts in any form.

• Do not provide ATM cards, PIN codes, passwords, or OTP codes to others.

• Be cautious of offers such as “easy jobs with high pay” or “receiving money on behalf of others” on social media.

• Proactively learn about legal regulations to avoid unintentionally violating the law.

• When detecting suspicious signs, report immediately to the police for assistance.

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