Police have reminded the public that renting out bank accounts or bank cards is a criminal offence, warning that such activity can lead to serious consequences.

In a post on social media, the Police Anti-Scam Centre said advertisements offering money in exchange for bank accounts have recently increased across platforms such as TikTok and Telegram.

Authorities warned that bank accounts are personal property and that PINs, OTPs and other access details must never be shared with others.

Police said renting or handing over bank accounts can lead to offences such as money laundering and may result in criminal charges as well as loss of access to banking services.

They added that account holders will be held responsible for any transactions carried out through their accounts, even if used by another person.

Police also urged the public not to engage with or share such advertisements and to report them immediately. They said action will be taken against individuals involved, in coordination with financial institutions.

The warning comes amid growing concern over misuse of banking services. Earlier, Bank of Maldives (BML) said card limits had been exploited for illegal transactions.

In one recent case, a person was arrested for allegedly carrying more than 100 bank cards abroad and withdrawing foreign currency last year.