What is a money mule?

If you’re not familiar with the term “money mule,” that’s okay! A money mule is someone who receives and moves stolen money. While some money mules know they are assisting criminal activity, others may not even be aware their actions are helping fraudsters. If someone you don’t know sends you money and asks you to transfer it, you could be serving as a money mule. Sometimes money mules are recruited online or in person and promised easy money for little effort.

Participating in money mule schemes is illegal and can result in serious consequences.

We’re here to help keep your money – and yourself – safe. See below for more information about money muling, so you can better protect yourself from common scams. 

 What to watch out for

• Don’t agree to receive or send money or packages for people you don’t know. 

• Don’t open a bank account for someone else at their direction.

• Don’t accept overpayment for goods/services under the guise of “holding” the rest.

• Research any organization offering money-making opportunities and verify their legitimacy.

• Don’t handle money for strangers or unfamiliar businesses.

• Don’t accept a job that involves using your personal bank account for financial transactions related to the business, or that promises easy money for receiving or sending money or packages. 

• Don’t pay money to collect a prize or send someone money out of your “winnings”.  

• Never share your financial account information with someone you don’t know, and never share your credentials for logging into your account with anyone.

If you believe that you are involved in a money mule scheme

• Stop communicating with the person who asked you to move money or property. 

• Stop transferring money or packages for someone you don’t know.

• Maintain any receipts, contact information, and relevant communications (emails, chats, text messages, etc).

• Notify your financial institution to keep your account safe or change accounts. Notify law enforcement and report the fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also report fraudulent activity to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

For more information, visit the Department of Justice’s Money Mule Initiative web page.