If someone sends you money and asks you to send it to someone else, STOP. This could be a “money mule” scam! What is a money mule? Read below to find out more information and ways to avoid money mule scams!
Scammers often convince or trick innocent victims to become money mules in order to transfer and launder stolen money. Scammers often ask you to buy gift cards or wire money. They might recruit you through online job ads, prize offers, or even dating sites.
In a typical scam, the scammer sends the victim money to deposit into a bank account and then asks them to send some of it to someone else, usually through a gift card or a wire transfer. When the initial check is later found to be fake, the victims are on the hook for the full amount!
Please take a few moments to read the attached info graphic from the Federal Trade Commission and American Bankers Association Foundation.
If someone sends you money and asks you to send it to someone else, STOP. You could be what some people call a money mule — someone scammers use to transfer and launder stolen money.