DPSS4361

Money Mule Scams

A money mule is a person who receives money, that has been acquired illegally, and sends or transfers the money on behalf of another person. Money mules often are not aware that they have been targeted by a scammer and are unaware that they may be participating in money laundering. A person that is a knowing money mule and is receiving a portion of the money to send to another person is actively participating in money laundering. How does a person typically get involved as a money mule?

● Romance scams

● Lottery scams

● Work-from-home scams

DO NOT BE A VICTIM. DO NOT BECOME A PERPETRATOR.

What do these scams have in common? The victims of these scams have all been tricked into giving the scammer money until they can no longer give the scammer money. The scammer then offers the victim the opportunity to “earn” back his/her money by receiving cash in the mail, allowing the use of his/her bank account, or depositing fraudulent checks into the bank account. Then the victim is allowed to keep a small portion of the money and is required to send the money to another potential money mule, which eventually gets to the scammer. The victim is now a knowing and active participant in money laundering.

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APS HOTLINE 800-491-7123