Mule Herding

Mule herding refers to the organised management of multiple money mules by a criminal operation. A 'herder' recruits individuals, assigns them specific transfer tasks, monitors their accounts, and directs the flow of funds across the network. Each mule receives only a fragment of the criminal enterprise's overall picture, making it harder for law enforcement to trace the original source of funds.

Herders operate on social media, encrypted messaging apps, and through peer networks — particularly targeting young adults and students in financial difficulty. They may be aware of the criminal nature of the work or may themselves be lower-level participants in a larger organised crime group.

Financial institutions use transaction monitoring to detect mule networks — unusual inbound transfers followed by immediate outbound transfers are a key indicator. If you suspect you are being herded, stop all transfers immediately and contact your bank and local police.