Do not fall for 'Rent your bank account, earn high profits' ads!

Fraudulent activities via websites and applications are increasing every day. Scammers who want to launder money through illegal gambling or betting on social media platforms are trying to attract citizens' attention with 'Rent your bank account, earn high profits' posts.

Many citizens who fall into the fraud network known as 'bank account renting' face as many criminal files as the number of different accounts involved in the transactions that pass through their own accounts.

''SINCE THE PERSON WHO LETS THEIR BANK ACCOUNT BE USED DOES SO VOLUNTARILY, IT CONSTITUTES A CRIME UNDER THE TURKISH PENAL CODE''

Explaining that the person who allows their bank account to be used is processed as a prime suspect because they allowed the use of their bank account of their own free will, Forensic Informatics Expert Lawyer Emre Akman said, “One of the methods used by scammers regarding the laundering of money obtained from illegal gambling and betting is renting the accounts of people in need to use them in the money laundering traffic. This account rental constitutes a crime by using the bank accounts of these needy people as a result of the money laundering flow of funds obtained from illegal betting and gambling. People who organize and participate in illegal betting receive various penalties in this regard. Because the person who allows their bank account to be used does so voluntarily, it constitutes a crime under the Turkish Penal Code. People who let their bank accounts be used are deceived by scammers on pages set up on social media accounts with the promise of 'We will give you a high share of the money that will be deposited into your account,' and in this way, their bank accounts are used. When we look at it from this perspective, in addition to those who organize and participate in betting, people who let their own accounts be used receive much higher penalties and are included as prime suspects. Since money from illegal betting and gambling is already coming into the account of the person who lets their bank account be used, there is a constant flow and transfer of money from different people. In fact, this shows a butterfly effect. The person who lets their bank account be used also allows the owner of the money coming into their account to use their own bank account, and separate investigation files are opened against the citizen who lets their bank account be used for every different person whose money comes into the bank account. In this respect, the person who lets their bank account be used is not a suspect for just one person; they are held responsible for as much money as has come in and from as many people as it has come from.”

''DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THEIR PROMISES''

Underlining that scammers deceive the owner of the rented account with the promise of giving them a share of the money to be deposited, Lawyer Emre Akman said, “Some of the excuses presented to our clients to let their bank accounts be used are 'we will give you 5 percent, 10 percent profit.' Do not be deceived by the promises of 'we will give you a 5 percent, 10 percent share of the money' that is deposited, whether they send it every day or every hour, whatever the interval; they deceive people this way. Apart from that, more malicious citizens who do not want to give money make suggestions such as 'there is a lien on your account' or 'you need to make a transfer from your account to an IBAN, can you help?' and deceive citizens. When we look at this from the perspective of the public, no one should let anyone else use their bank account under any circumstances. Because even if that account has been accessed once, they will be referred to the courthouse to have their statement taken as a suspect in the file. When we look at it from this perspective, if money comes into your account from a person you do not know or if you encounter such a situation, it will be more beneficial for you in terms of judicial proceedings to return the money that came to you to the person who sent it, even if you understand the situation later.”

''RETURN FUNDS RECEIVED FROM SOURCES YOU DO NOT KNOW''

Addressing citizens who notice activity in their accounts without their knowledge, Lawyer Akman said, “As soon as it is noticed, the money must be returned immediately to the account from which it came. This situation must be reported to the judicial authorities. Otherwise, as we mentioned before, since the bank account is used and money flow and transfers from money laundering, betting, and gambling come there, they will definitely be included in the investigation file and will face judicial proceedings. In this respect, for every incoming payment, if you do not know the person, if you do not want to be involved in this money laundering network, because it is a very commonly used method nowadays, please return the funds received from sources you do not know to the account they came from.”

News Source: İHA