Australian police warn int'l students not to sell bank accounts or ID documents

CANBERRA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australian authorities on Wednesday warned international students who are departing the country not to sell their bank accounts or official identification to organized criminal groups.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Center said in a statement that criminal syndicates engaging in illicit activities are targeting international tertiary students with cash offers for access to their bank accounts and identity documents.

Authorities said that foreign students preparing to leave Australia are being offered up to 500 Australian dollars (about 325.5 U.S. dollars) for the use of their bank accounts, with potential for a commission of around 10 percent on funds received into the accounts.

The AFP said that the criminals then use the bank accounts for illicit activities such as money laundering and large-scale scam operations, potentially linking the students to crime networks.

Identity documents such as passports, driver's licenses and government-issued identification that criminals can use to open bank accounts in the students' names are also in high demand, the AFP said.

AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said that students who sell bank accounts or documents to criminal syndicates could face criminal charges, visa cancellations and permanent bans from returning to Australia.

"We are seeing criminal networks overseas launder millions through bank accounts belonging to young people, and as a result, they too could be charged with offenses like money laundering," she said.

The AFP urged students to close their local bank accounts and secure their digital and personal identity before leaving Australia.