International students and backpackers travelling through the Kimberley are being urged to protect their bank accounts from sophisticated money laundering syndicates as a nationwide crackdown hits regional WA.

The warning follows a staggering 13,000 bank accounts being shut down across Australia during the 2023–24 financial year.

Authorities reveal that transient holidaymakers in the North West are increasingly viewed as “soft targets” by organised crime groups looking to hijack travellers’ bank accounts to funnel illicit cash offshore.

Kimberley Superintendent John Hutchison said the region’s popularity made it uniquely vulnerable.

“I think it’s more vulnerable than a lot of other districts because we get the amount of backpackers coming through,” he said.

He said criminals could exploit accounts long after the holders had left the area or the country.

“When people are leaving the State or leaving the country, their bank accounts can be used without their knowledge,” Supt Hutchison said.

“A lot of these students leave the country and keep their bank accounts open, and they are then accessed by groups that can ultimately move very large amounts of money with a small effort through those bank accounts.”

Criminal networks typically recruit victims by pinning deceptive notices on hostel bulletin boards or offering large cash payouts for minimal effort.

Once they secure account access, criminals route smaller transactions through multiple accounts to move vast sums undetected.

The consequences for those caught in the “money trap” are severe, ranging from immediate debanking and ruined credit ratings to serious criminal charges.

Supt Hutchison warned that involvement put temporary visas in direct jeopardy.

“If they do get caught committing an offense, their visas, their immigration status, and all that will be affected,” he said.

“People can be deported . . . and these type of offences are a primary target of Australian immigration authorities.”

In response, Crime Stoppers has launched a dedicated four-month regional blitz, using targeted digital advertising and community forums to warn travellers.

Crime Stoppers WA director Jarrod Greenwood said their secure platform allowed people to report suspicious activity with complete peace of mind.

“Through that process, we’re able to, I guess, scrub all the identifying information around that person — IP addresses, metadata — it’s all removed from the reporting process, so people have that that confidence of anonymity,” he said.

Mr Greenwood also urged the local travellers community to stay vigilant, stating that “the small financial reward is not worth the risk”.