What is a Money Mule?

About Money Mule:

• A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else.
• Criminals recruit money mules to help launder proceeds derived from online scams and frauds or crimes like human trafficking and drug trafficking. 
• Money mules add layers of distance between crime victims and criminals, which makes it harder for law enforcement to accurately trace money trails.
• Money mules can move funds in various ways, including through bank accounts, cashier’s checks, virtual currency, prepaid debit cards, or money service businesses.
• Criminals will often use fake job adverts, or create social media posts about opportunities to make money quickly, in order to recruit potential money mules.
• Some money mules know they are supporting criminal enterprises; others are unaware that they are helping criminals’ profit.
• Money mules often receive a commission for their service,or they might provide assistance because they believe they have a trusting relationship with the individual who is asking for help.
• When such frauds are reported, the money mule becomes the target of police investigations.
• Even if money mules are not directly involved in the crimes that generate the money, they are accomplices, as they launder the proceeds of such crimes.