What is a Money Mule scam?
Don’t get tricked into becoming a Money Mule.
You may have heard the term before, but you might not know what this scam entails.
One sign of a Money Mule scam is if someone sends you money and then asks you to send that money to someone else.
This should give you pause, as this could be a Money Mule scam. A Money Mule is a person scammers use to transfer stolen money by getting you to buy gift cards, wire money, or withdraw cash from your personal account.
Scammers might recruit you through online job ads, prize offers, or dating websites. Or, they may ask you to do it as a “favor” for a distant relative or acquaintance.
Of course, they aren’t going to tell you the money is stolen, and they will lie about the reason for sending it. If you share your account information with them, they may misuse it, and you could even get into legal trouble.
How to Avoid a Money Mule Scam
- Never use your own bank account, or open one in your name, to transfer money for an employer.
- Never pay to collect a prize or move any money out of your “winnings.”
- Never send money to an online love interest, even if he or she sends you a check first.
