What is a money mule and could I accidentally become one?

Money mules are individuals whose bank accounts are used as relay points for fraud proceeds. Scammers need to move stolen money quickly across accounts to obscure its origin before withdrawing it, and using a real person's genuine bank account makes the trail harder to follow. The mule may receive funds and be instructed to send them on by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, keeping a 'commission' as payment.

Unwitting mules are recruited through convincing deceptions. Work-from-home job scams offer a 'payment processing' role where your only task is to receive funds and send them on. Romance scam victims may be asked to help their 'partner' receive and forward money they can't access themselves. Lottery and overpayment scams send a fraudulent check for more than the 'winnings' and ask you to wire back the overpayment — when the check bounces weeks later, you are liable for the full amount.

The consequences for mules — even unwitting ones — can be severe. Banks typically freeze and close accounts used in money mule activity. The frozen funds may be seized. Credit reports and banking history can be affected for years, making it harder to open new accounts. In cases where law enforcement determines the person acted knowingly or recklessly, criminal charges for money laundering are possible.

The common thread in recruitment is always the same: you are asked to receive money from a third party and send it somewhere else, keeping a percentage. Legitimate employers never operate this way.