SCARS Webinar: Money Mules – Risks & Consequences
Scam Victims Are Often Converted Into Money Mules Aiding The Criminals To Receive Stolen Money From Other Victims And To Engage In Money Laundering
Money mules typically scam victims that are manipulated into helping criminals launder money. They do this by receiving money from criminals or other victims – usually without knowing that they are involved in a crime – and then transferring it to other accounts, often in different countries. Money mules are often used by scammers to move money that they have stolen from their victims.
There are many ways that scam victims can become converted into money mules. Some of the most common methods include:
- Romance scams: Scammers will often pose as someone they are not, such as a soldier, a businessperson, an oil rig worker, or a doctor, in order to build a relationship with the victim. Once the victim is emotionally controlled, the scammer will ask them to help them with a financial problem, such as transferring money to a family member or for their business in another country.
- Online job scams: Scammers will often post fake job ads online that promise easy money. Once the victim applies for the job, the scammer will ask them to receive money from a third party and then transfer it to another account.
If you think you have been converted into a money mule, there are a few things you can do:
- Stop transferring money. This is the most important thing you can do. Once you stop transferring money, the criminals will not be able to use your accounts to launder money.
- Report the scam to the authorities. Start with your local police and then federal/national law enforcement. You can report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the FBI – but make sure you report to the local police first. This is essential in helping to establish your innocence in case there are questions later on.
- Contact your bank. Let your bank know that you have been a victim of a money mule scam. They will be able to help you close your account and prevent the criminals from accessing any more of your accounts.
SCARS Webinars & Videos
To learn more about why this happened we recommend that you start with the Psychology of Scams articles – click here
Articles About Money Mules
Money Mules Consequences
- Scam Basics: From Victim To Criminal
- FBI Warning About Scammers Recruiting Mules
- Money Mule Series: About Banking & Legal Responsibility
- Money Laundering Presents Grave Dangers For Scam Victims & Mules
- Scam Victims & Violating The Law
- Money Mules Can Be Sued By Victims
- Giving Out Your Banking Information – Scam Warning
Money Mules & Police
- Editorial: Attitudes Are Changing
- 2023 Money Mule Initiative
- New Global Interpol Campaign Against Money Mules [VIDEOS]
- European Money Mule Crackdown Continues in 2021!
- Europe Continues The Global Crackdown On Money Mules
- Criminal Crack Down On Money Mules Worldwide
- Landmark Case Changes Everything For Money Mules
- Interpol Arrests Over 1,000 Suspects Linked To Cyber Crime
- Australian Scammer’s Mule Grandmother Who Faced Death By Hanging In Malaysia Has Had Her Conviction Overturned
- Scam Victim Turned Into Money Mule Arrested In West Virginia
- Australian Romance Scam Victim Yoshe Taylor Freed From Cambodian Prison!
- Japanese Woman Age 66 Victimized In ‘International Romance Fraud’ Of ¥100 million (US$896,260)
- Missouri Money/Parcel Mule Convicted
General Types of Money Mules
Generally speaking, there are five types of money mules:
- ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS
- The Partner: This type of money mule is aware that they are involved in a criminal activity, and they are actively working with the criminals. They may be involved in recruiting other money mules, or they may be responsible for laundering the money. Partners are often motivated by a desire for financial gain, but they may also be motivated by a desire for power or prestige.
- The Accomplice: This type of money mule is aware that they are involved in a criminal activity. They are often recruited by criminals through social engineering or other means, and they may be paid a percentage of the money they launder. Accomplices are typically motivated by financial gain, and they may be willing to go to great lengths to avoid detection.
- PASSIVE PARTICIPANTS
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The Contractors: This type of money mule is aware that they are involved in a criminal activity, but they may not fully understand the extent of their involvement. They may be recruited through online job advertisements or through social media, and they may be promised a job that involves easy money. Contractors are often motivated by a desire for quick money, and they may be willing to overlook the risks involved in their activities.
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- UNKNOWING/UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS
- The Scam Victim: This type of money mule is unaware that they are involved in a criminal activity. They may be tricked into laundering money through phishing scams or other means. Scam Victims are often motivated by a desire to help others, or they may be simply naive.
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The ID Victim: This type of money mule is a victim of identity theft. Criminals have stolen their personal information, and they are using that information to open bank accounts and launder money. Identity Theft Victims are unaware that they are being used as money mules, and they may suffer financial losses as a result.
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started Right: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- Sextortion Scam Victims: Sextortion Victims Support – The Essentials (scamvictimssupport.org)
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Join our Scam Survivors United Chat & Discussion Group facebook.com/groups/scam.survivors.united
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Scammer photos ScammerPhotos.com
- SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
Other Cyber Resources
- Block Scam Domains: Quad9.net
- Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org) https://act.globalcyberalliance.org/index.php/Actionable_Cybersecurity_Tools_(ACT)_-_Simplified_Cybersecurity_Protection
- Wizer Cybersecurity Training – Free Security Awareness Training, Phishing Simulation and Gamification (wizer-training.com)
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- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
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