Is that job offer too good? Don’t Become a Money Mule

When you need money because you’re unemployed, underemployed, or are just trying to fund your lavish lifestyle (😂), it can be tempting to take the easiest, fastest, and most lucrative jobs you can find. However, many jobs you find online are too good to be true – in fact, they’re illegal! Make sure you read this article before you start your next job search, to protect yourself from becoming a money mule!

 

What is a Money Mule?

Money Mules are receiving and sending money (money laundering) on behalf of a 3rd party. Some money mules know that they are laundering money for illegal operations, but many don’t!

According to the FBI2, there are many ways that money mules might transfer money, including through their bank accounts, cashier’s checks, virtual currency (like Bitcoin), prepaid debit cards (like Google Play Gift cards and Vanilla Gift cards), sending money through money services (like MoneyGram and Western Union), among others.

You should never receive and send money for a 3rd party.

 

How do people become Money Mules?

There are some common ways that people unknowingly become money mules. Here are some of the most common ways, according to Interpol5:

  • Job Scams

Fake jobs that are either received in unsolicited emails or commonly found online; these Work-from-home jobs don’t have a comprehensive job description, and the only activity is to “process payments”. They will tell you to keep a percentage and send on the rest of the “payments”.2

Check out the video “My Adventure Working as a Check Scammer” by Pleasant Green on YouTube to see how this might work

  • Romance Scams

When you meet someone on a dating or social media site who asks you to send/receive money for their needs. Commonly, they claim to be overseas or otherwise without banking access and want someone else to send you money to then send to them.4

Check out the video “How online romance scams turn victims into accomplices” by CBS News to see how this can happen

  • Investment Scams

You’re promised big returns on an investment and continue sending money for a 3rd party.5

  • Impersonation Scams

You get calls or messages from “government” employees demanding access to your bank account.5

While these are the most common ways unwitting people become money mules, the most important sign that you’re being recruited is if you’re asked to send and receive money for a 3rd party. Do not agree to send and receive money for anyone.

 

What to do if you think you’re a money mule?

According to the Department of Justice1, “You should stop communicating with the person who asked you to send and receive money.  If you currently have money in your possession from the activity, don’t send it to the person who has been giving directions.  You should notify your financial institution about what has happened and consider changing accounts, especially if you’ve provided any information to the person to whom you’ve been talking.  Report the communications and suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

 

In Conclusion

Some things really are too good to be true. Make sure you do your homework when you’re looking for a job (or a date!) online, and don’t send money to people you don’t know!

I’ll leave you with some comic relief: “Catching Money Mules ft. Mark Rober” by Jim Browning on YouTube (the Glitterbomb!)

Please also check out some of the scam baiters7,8,9,10,11 I’ve linked in the further reading to learn more about how scams work, and share them with the important people in your life!

 

Reference and Further Reading

  1. Money Mule initiative. (2024, October 21). Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative
  2. Money Mules. (n.d.). Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/money-mules
  3. What is a money mule? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2024, April 15). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-money-mule-en-2108/
  4. Don’t be a Mule. (n.d.). United States Secret Service. https://www.secretservice.gov/Preparing-for-a-Cyber-Incident/moneymule
  5. Money mules – what are the risks? (n.d.). Interpol. https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Financial-crime/Money-mules-what-are-the-risks
  6. Money muling | Europol. (n.d.). Europol. https://www.europol.europa.eu/operations-services-and-innovation/public-awareness-and-prevention-guides/money-muling
  7. Pleasant Green. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAPrhJwVweWZA8GEPoClSdw
  8. Scammer Payback. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@ScammerPayback
  9. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@KitbogaShow
  10. Jim Browning. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@JimBrowning
  11. Trilogy Media. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TrilogyMedia

Carly Henry

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