If someone asks you to move money through your bank account in exchange for payment, then they are asking you to be a money mule.
Criminals are targeting students (online and in-person) and offering them payment to receive money into their bank account and transfer it to another account or cryptocurrency exchange. Money mules are recruited, sometimes unknowingly, by criminals to transfer stolen money on behalf of others.
The money being transferred is often used by criminals to fund other serious crimes like cybercrime, terrorism, and human trafficking.
In Australia, participating in money muling is a serious criminal offence. If convicted, you can face anywhere from 12 months to life in prison.
In addition to engaging in criminal activity, you risk breaching the terms of your bank or financial institution and could lose access to your bank accounts.
Criminals can contact you via:
- Social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat)
- Instant messaging apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram)
- Fake job offers (e.g. ‘money transfer agents’)
- Online pop-up ads, face-to-face direct contact, or through email.
Stay safe from Money Mule scams
STOP
- Take a moment to reflect on whether the offer is too good to be true, be on guard.
- Be suspicious of job adverts that offer the chance to earn quick and easy money.
