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Security tips and practices

Money Mule Scams

What is a Money Mule Scam?

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. Acting as a money mule is illegal and punishable, even if you aren’t aware you’re committing a crime. Some of the federal charges you could face include mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

How You Can Protect Yourself

Don’t get caught up in a bad romance
Criminal elements use several methods to recruit victims, one of them is online romance. Be suspicious if an individual you met on a dating website wants to use your bank account for receiving and forwarding money. Never give your financial details to someone you don’t know and trust, especially if you met them online.
Stay away from easy money work from home
Be weary of job postings or an unsolicited e-mails offering easy money that can be made with little effort working from home. The following are the signs to look out for:
  • The "employer" you communicate with uses web-based email services (such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, etc.).
  • You are asked to open a bank account in your own name or in the name of a company you form to receive and transfer money. You are allowed to keep a portion of the money you transfer.
  • As an employee, you are asked to receive funds in your bank account and then "process" or "transfer" funds via: wire transfer, ACH, mail, or money service business (such as Western Union or MoneyGram).
Perform online searches to check the legitimacy of any company that offers you a job. You can also contact the local Better Business Bureau chapter, state corporation directory, and state attorney general’s office to see if the offer or a job is legitimate.
Don’t take an offer that promises easy money for sending or receiving packages
If a job sounds too good to be true, it probably is — never take a job accepting or sending packages on behalf of others.
Be critical of lottery winnings
Everyone loves a win, however, if a person informs you that you need to transfer or accept money in order to collect a prize, be critical and cease contact.
Don’t engage in financial transactions with strangers
This includes transferring money into and out of accounts you own or purchasing postal money orders, gift cards, or virtual currency at the direction of others. Never give your personal information, such as your social security number or bank account number to someone else.

Think You’ve Been Solicited as a Money Mule?

If you believe that you are participating in a money mule scheme:

  • Call the United States Postal Inspection Service® at 877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report to file a report.
  • Stop communication with the suspected criminal(s).
  • Stop transferring money or any packages immediately.
  • Maintain any receipts, contact information, and relevant communications (emails, chats, text messages, etc.).
  • Notify your bank and the service you used to conduct the transaction.
  • Notify law enforcement. Report suspicious activity to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and contact your local FBI field office.
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