What is a money mule?

Some people have been approached by criminals, usually by email, offering a one-off or series of payments in exchange for providing their account details.

Criminals need a 'money mule' (or money transfer agent) to launder the funds obtained as a result of fraudulent activity. After being recruited by the fraudsters, money mules receive funds into their accounts which they will then withdraw and send overseas using a wire transfer service, minus a certain commission payment.

Money mules are recruited by a variety of methods, including spam emails, adverts on genuine recruitment web sites, approaches to people with their CVs available online, instant messaging and adverts in newspapers. This type of scam targets the unwary - and could help third parties to 'launder' the proceeds of crime.