money mules
Unwitting financial intermediaries
Money mules are people who transfer illegally obtained funds on behalf of criminals, often unknowingly.
Scammers recruit them through fake job offers or romance schemes, using their bank accounts to launder money from fraud, drugs, or trafficking.
The mule receives funds, keeps a cut, and forwards the rest—becoming complicit in money laundering: She didn't realize she'd become a money mule until the FBI contacted her.
- accompliceCrime's willing helper
- launderingCleaning fabric items
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- recruitmentSeeking new personnel
- job scamFake employment offer
scheme · deception · accounts · intermediary · wire transfers · criminal networks · messenger · cybercrime · financial crime · law enforcement · unwitting · identity theft · bank accounts · beneficial ownership · smurfing · fraud · fake check · finances
- fraudscam, fraud, swindle, con, deceive
- cybercriminalshacker, hackers, scammer, scammers, phishers
- cyberscamsphishing, scam emails, online scams, scams, email spoofing
- financial crimesbank fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud
- secret networkssecret societies, cabals, cells, hidden networks, criminal networks
- ATM crimesskimming, card skimming, shoulder surfing, card cloning, shimming
money mulesmasterminds
Plans and directs schemes
crime bosses · ringleaders · handlers · puppet masters · exploiters
money mulescompliance officers
Employees ensuring legal adherence
fraud investigators · bank tellers · auditors · certified public accountants · chartered accountants
money, mule, moneys, monies, moneyed, mules, muled, muling, monetary