{"id":68523,"date":"2025-07-15T17:19:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=68523"},"modified":"2025-07-15T17:20:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:20:16","slug":"using-ewallets-overseas-risks-getting-banned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/using-ewallets-overseas-risks-getting-banned","title":{"rendered":"Malaysian’s Using E-Wallets Overseas At Risk Of Getting Banned By Banks?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve packed your bags, planned your itinerary, and topped up your BigPay or Wise card like the financially responsible traveller you are. You\u2019re ready for your trip to Thailand, Bali, or wherever<\/span> MATTA Fair\u2019s sales<\/span><\/a> have taken you. But instead of worrying about sunscreen or airport WiFi, you end up worrying about something far more stressful: being banned by your bank over a RM10 refund.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sounds ridiculous? That\u2019s exactly what allegedly happened to a Malaysian woman recently, and it’s raising major questions about how local banks flag \u201csuspicious activity,\u201d especially when fintech apps are involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what went down, why this could happen to anyone, and how you can avoid becoming a money mule suspect while just trying to enjoy your Thai tea in peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Wait\u2026 how does someone get blacklisted over a RM10 refund?<\/b><\/h3>\n

So <\/span>TLDR<\/span><\/a>, A Malaysian woman went viral after claiming she was banned from opening bank accounts and flagged across financial institutions \u2014all because of a RM10.44 refund she received on her BigPay card while travelling in Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turns out, that refund allegedly triggered a red flag in the system, which then tagged her as a potential money mule (i.e., someone being used to move suspicious funds).<\/span><\/p>\n

And here\u2019s the kicker: she only found out when she tried to open a new bank account and got rejected. She later discovered she\u2019d been silently blacklisted via eCCRIS\u2014a credit reporting system many Malaysians have never even heard of until something goes wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Okay but\u2026 why would banks think I\u2019m a money mule?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Great question. It all comes down to automated fraud detection systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Banks and regulatory bodies in Malaysia (and globally) use algorithms to detect suspicious activity, especially when it comes to cross-border transactions, unusual refund patterns, or frequent small-value deposits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the system isn\u2019t always that smart. A small refund from an overseas source, especially via a fintech app like BigPay or Wise, can look like \u201clayering\u201d, a tactic used by money launderers to disguise the origin of illegal funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

So even if you\u2019re just getting a refund on your BTS concert ticket or a Grab ride that didn\u2019t show up, the system might go:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnusual behaviour detected. Must be suspicious. Flag it.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

And once you’re flagged? It could show up on internal bank alerts or, worse, in BNM\u2019s financial intelligence network.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Who\u2019s most at risk?<\/b><\/h3>\n

You\u2019re more likely to be flagged if:<\/span><\/p>\n