Back to all articles
Financial Literacy

“Pautangin mo muna yung account mo”: Why lending your bank account is a crime

Sep 1, 2026 · 2 min readBy KasKasan Buddies

Under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, allowing others to use your bank account or e-wallet for financial transactions can make you criminally liable.

  • "Besh, pwede ba yung account mo? Para lang matanggap yung bayad. Bibigyan kita ng kita."
  • If someone ever asked you this, or if you said yes, this post is for you.
  • Under Republic Act No. 12010, also known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), lending, selling, or allowing anyone else to use your bank account, e-wallet, or ATM account for any financial transaction is a criminal offense.

Under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, allowing others to use your bank account or e-wallet for financial transactions can make you criminally liable.

  • "Besh, pwede ba yung account mo? Para lang matanggap yung bayad. Bibigyan kita ng kita."
  • If someone ever asked you this, or if you said yes, this post is for you.
  • Under Republic Act No. 12010, also known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), lending, selling, or allowing anyone else to use your bank account, e-wallet, or ATM account for any financial transaction is a criminal offense.

"Besh, pwede ba yung account mo? Para lang matanggap yung bayad. Bibigyan kita ng kita."

If someone ever asked you this, or if you said yes, this post is for you.

Under Republic Act No. 12010, also known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), lending, selling, or allowing anyone else to use your bank account, e-wallet, or ATM account for any financial transaction is a criminal offense.

It does not matter if you did not know where the money came from. It does not matter if you thought it was just a simple favor. Under AFASA, you can be held criminally liable just for allowing your account to be used.

This is what scammers call a "money mule" — and many Filipinos become one without fully realizing it, lured by promises of easy income or online job offers.

AFASA also punishes:

• Opening dummy or fake accounts for criminal syndicates

• Phishing or tricking people into giving their OTPs and passwords

• Using stolen identities to open financial accounts

• Possessing devices or software used for financial fraud

The rule is simple: your account is yours alone.

No legitimate bank, e-wallet company, or institution will ever ask for your OTP, PIN, password, or banking credentials through text, call, or social media. If someone is asking — it is a scam.

What to do if someone asks to use your account:

• Say no. Full stop.

• Do not be swayed by commission offers or "easy money" schemes.

• If you suspect a scam, report it to the NBI at (02) 8523-8231 to 38 loc. 3482 or file a report at www.nbi.gov.ph.

Your bank account and e-wallet are the keys to your financial life. Protect them the same way you protect your home.

Speaking of protecting your finances — use the KasKasan Buddies App to find the safest, most verified credit card and digital bank options for your lifestyle. Download here: https://www.kaskasanbuddies.com.ph/download?source=web

Share this with your friends so no one falls for the "money mule" trap.

Source: Republic Act No. 12010 (Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act / AFASA). NBI Official Advisory.