A money mule is a person who engages in the transfer of stolen or illegally obtained money on behalf of a criminal enterprise to launder the funds. The mule is typically rewarded with a small percentage of the money they transfer. While some mules knowingly engage in this illicit activity, some money mules may not even be aware that they are breaking the law and could end up being prosecuted — or even incarcerated — for participating in financial crimes.

The perpetrators of crimes like malware hacks, phishing scams, human trafficking, and ransomware often use money mules to help launder the proceeds. Mules are also utilized in an effort to keep authorities off the tracks of the primary perpetrators by adding a layer of separation between criminals and their victims. This structure can make it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and trace the money trail of a crime, and aids in hiding the identity and location of the perpetrators from both victims and the authorities.

•Remember:

°Never share or write down your Member Access information.

°Never share or write down your personal or account information.

°Never send money at the direction of someone you don’t know.

°Share this information with a friend. You may not have seen this type of scam, but chances are you know someone who has.