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SCAM ALERT
[email protected]
Criminals turn to social media to recruit members of
public as money launderers
Immediate Release – Tuesday 3 March 2015
Organised criminals are using new methods – such as social media – to recruit members of the
public to act as unsuspecting money launderers of the dirty money they earn from drug smuggling,
people trafficking and fraud.
Often known as ‘money mules’, members of the public are tricked by professional criminals into
making their bank account available for illicit money to be transferred through it and then laundered
or sent abroad. The mules are told that they are taking a legitimate job using such titles as ‘money
transfer agent’ and are offered a cut of the funds that pass through their account. But the mules
involved are acting illegally and allowing criminal gang leaders to move funds freely and easily
around the world. The consequences for money mules are severe – they can face a prison sentence
and the prospect of never again being able to secure a mortgage or open a bank account.
Traditionally, money mules were recruited through job adverts and online postings or sometimes
through criminals directly approaching their victim in person or through email. Whilst these methods
are still being used, Financial Fraud Action UK’s (FFA UK) intelligence unit – the Financial Fraud
Bureau – has warned that criminal networks are now also using social media to recruit mules. Recent
examples have included Facebook posts on closed groups, or messages sent through instant
messaging apps such as BBM, which typically encourage people to contact the sender if they hold a
particular bank account.
The content of adverts, messages and posts vary dramatically. Some will ask readers to become a
‘UK representative’ or ‘agent’ of an overseas company seeking to act on their behalf for a period of
time, because it will help the business avoid local taxes. Others are more brash, posting pictures of
piles of cash or stating that people can make money fast if they get in contact, with little or no detail
on what the recipient’s bank account will be used for.
Intelligence suggests that students are most susceptible to the crime, as well as some newcomers to
the UK who are often directly targeted soon after arriving in the country.
Commenting, Katy Worobec, Director of FFA UK, said:
“An online posting or job advert which claims you can make easy money and asks for details of your
bank account is highly likely to have been posted by criminals trying to recruit money mules. The
consequences of letting criminals transfer money through your account are very serious – this is an
imprisonable offence, and can bring with it the prospect of losing access to bank accounts and
mortgages. Money mules also unwittingly aid the activities of international organised gangs which are
involved in some of the most serious forms of criminality.
“It is often students or people who are new to the country that are tricked into becoming money
mules, so if you have friends or family who are being asked by a stranger for the use of their bank
account, warn them of the dangers immediately.”
Advice to consumers on how to spot a criminal money laundering approach and steps to take
to protect themselves:

Be very cautious of unsolicited emails or approaches over social media promising
opportunities to make easy money.

Verify any company that makes you a job offer and check their contact details (address,
landline phone number, email address and website) are correct and whether they are
registered in the UK.

Be especially wary of job offers from people or companies overseas as it will be harder for you
to find out if they really are legitimate.

Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them
Other signs that could indicate you are being targeted by a money mule scam:

Money mule adverts or offers can take a variety of different forms and they may even copy a
genuine company’s website and have a similar web address to make the scam seem
authentic.

These adverts will normally state that they are an overseas company seeking ‘UK
representatives’ or ‘agents’ to act on their behalf for a period of time, sometimes to avoid high
transaction charges or local taxes.

The nature of the work that the company will claim to be involved in can vary, but the specifics
of the job being advertised invariably mean using your bank account to move money.

The advert may be written in poor English with grammatical and spelling mistakes.

If you have already disclosed your bank account details or received money into your account
and you think it could be a money mule scam, you should contact your bank immediately.
ENDS
For further information please contact the press office on 020 3217 8436 or email [email protected]
Notes to editors:
Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK) is the name under which the financial services industry coordinates its activity on fraud prevention, presenting a united front against financial fraud and its
effects. Financial Fraud Action UK (www.financialfraudaction.org.uk) works in partnership with The
UK Cards Association on industry initiatives to prevent fraud on credit and debit cards, with the Fraud
Control Steering Group (an unincorporated association of financial institutions who participate in retail
banking and the payments market in the UK) on non-card fraud and the Cheque & Credit Clearing
Company on credit clearing and cheque fraud.
The Financial Fraud Bureau was established in 2010 as the intelligence hub for the card and retail
banking industries. It operates collective industry initiatives on fraud data and intelligence-sharing
between the banks, card companies and their key partners.
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