Avoid Scams: Don't Be a Mule

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</header> <main class="main-content usa-layout-docs usa-section " role="main" id="main-content"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row"> </div> <div class=""> <div class="page-node-3454"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row grid-gap"> <div class="usa-layout-docs__main desktop:grid-col-fill"> <div class="page-node-3454"> <div id="block-af1-pagetitle" class="page-wrap page-title page-node-3454 block block-core block-page-title-block"> <h1 class="uswds-page-title page-title"></h1> </div> <div id="block-af1-content" class="page-node-3454 block block-system block-system-main-block"> <article class="page-node-3454"> <div> <div class="page-node-3454 layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="page-node-3454 block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodebasic-pagebody"> <div class="page-node-3454 clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="page-wrap"><center><h1 class="text-align-center font-heading-xl">Avoid Scams: Don’t Be a Money Mule</h1><div class="text-align-center text-center usss-hr"><img src="/profiles/usssd8_gov/themes/custom/af1/img/usss-hr-star-lg-y.png" alt="Horizontal Rule" width="397" height="24" loading="lazy"></div><p><video style="height:80%;width:80%;" controls="controls" poster="/sites/default/files/2024-06/moneymule_0.jpg"><source src="/sites/default/files/2020-12/PSA-Money-Mule.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video></p></center><p>To avoid being detected by law enforcement, criminals use money laundering techniques to conceal the identity, source, and destination of illicitly obtained funds. Criminals often prey on unsuspecting victims by creating elaborate stories and false identities to gain the victims’ trust by, for example, pretending to be an entrepreneur or a bachelor looking for romance. In reality, the criminals’ ultimate intention is to use these victims as “money mules.” Money mules are individuals who are recruited by criminals and, knowingly or unwittingly, transfer illegally obtained money using bank accounts, wire transfers, money orders, checks, or cryptocurrency. Money laundering is a crime, and so is being a money mule. There are a few things you should know about common methods used by criminals to recruit money mules.</p><p><strong>Red Flags - Employment</strong></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You receive an offer to make money quickly and with little effort.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You are asked to register a company and a business bank account.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your duties are limited to opening accounts and receiving and sending money.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You are asked to receive wires and / or withdraw cash and purchase cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You are asked to open cryptocurrency accounts and to link your bank account to those accounts.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your alleged employment offers and other communications are poorly written and include spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your alleged employer does not want to provide you with a copy of a business permit upon request.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your alleged employer refuses to show their face on camera during video communications.</p><p><strong>Red Flags - Romance</strong></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You meet an individual on an online dating or social media platform.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your romantic partner claims to be stationed overseas as a member of the U.S. military, reside in another state, or live abroad due to personal reasons or visa issues.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your romantic partner claims to be unable to open a bank account and asks to use your account to transfer money.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your romantic partner asks you to receive wires and / or withdraw cash and purchase cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>You buy a plane ticket for your romantic partner to visit you, but he or she doesn’t arrive because immigration or personal issues prevent him or her from traveling.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your romantic partner urgently needs to transfer money because of an unexpected emergency.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Your romantic partner’s alleged friend contacts you on behalf of your romantic partner to ask for money because of an unexpected emergency.</p><p><strong>How to Protect Yourself</strong></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Never share your bank account or other personally identifiable information (PII) with others.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Never open a joint account with anyone other than close family.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Never respond to an offer to earn quick and easy money.<br><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(51, 51, 51);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Source Sans Pro", "Source Sans Pro Web";font-size:17.6px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">• </span>Never agree to receive and send money on behalf of others.</p><p>If you suspect you were approached or recruited to become a money mule, report to your local law enforcement agency and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov. The United States Secret Service works closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate these crimes.</p></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container usa-footer__return-to-top page-wrap"> <a href="#">Return to top of page</a> </div> </main> <footer class="usa-footer usa-footer--medium" role="contentinfo"> <div class="grid-container footer-top-subscribe page-wrap"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap"> <div class="footer-subscribe-wrap"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-10"> <h3 class="usa-footer-subscribe-text">Sign-up for Secret Service news straight to your mailbox. </h3> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-2"> <a class="usa-button footer-subscribe-button" href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSSS/subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED" title="Sign up for Secret Service news">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="usa-footer__secondary-section"> <div class="grid-container"> <div 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