Money Mule — A money mule is a person who receives, transfers, converts, withdraws, transports, or forwards money or property on behalf of another person when the activity moves, conceals, or launders proceeds from crime. Criminals recruit money mules through romance scams, fraudulent jobs, investment schemes, business opportunities, emergency stories, online friendships, and requests to help someone who supposedly cannot access a financial account. Some participants knowingly assist criminal operations, while others believe they are helping a romantic partner, performing legitimate employment, processing customer payments, forwarding packages, or protecting money from theft, yet the participant’s bank account, cryptocurrency wallet, address, or identity becomes part of the criminal transaction chain. Money-mule activity exposes the person to financial losses, frozen accounts, repayment demands, identity theft, banking restrictions, and possible criminal investigation, which makes any request to receive and forward unexplained money or property a serious warning requiring immediate independent verification. — Financial Crime Facilitation

Added September 29, 2026