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Gardaí and the banks warn of an increase in the incidence of so-called money muling.
The industry estimates that more than 12 million euros have been laundered using so-called money mules so far this year in up to 1,000 fraud incidents.
Money manipulation involves people allowing criminals to use your bank account to deposit money into it. It is then passed on to the criminals and the account owner receives a small portion of the funds. The funds often come from scammers who steal from unsuspecting consumers.
A high-ranking official told RTÉ News that a case the force is investigating involves the theft of more than 1.5 million euros from clients of an Irish bank.
The victims received a text message that led them to a cloned website, via a scam called smishing. Smishing is where a fraudulent email or text message is sent to consumers, linking them to a website that appears identical to their bank’s.
Unsuspecting consumers transferred the money to scammers. The ongoing investigation has already led to the arrest of more than 30 people, one of whom was just 16 years old.
Michael Cryan of the National Office for Economic Crimes cautions parents and teens that the consequences of being caught acting like a money mule are dire.
“There is a perception among young people that it is not serious, but it is very serious, there is a potential conviction for people under the money laundering and terrorist financing legislation, it carries a huge prison sentence.
“People could end up on a terror watch list and it will have huge ramifications for young people in the future, opening bank accounts, getting a mortgage or even traveling abroad is a very very serious conviction to have on your record,” he said. .
The Banking and Payments Federation says that 98% of the people who are selected and used as money mules are between 18 and 24 years old.
The organization says the criminal gangs behind the money manipulation target people in schools, universities and on social media, often presenting it as a job or even a favor for a friend.
The industry is asking parents to talk to their children about the issue and to be vigilant if they are spending more money than they should.
Olivia Buckley of BPFI said that “parents should have a conversation with their children about the use of their bank account, the threat of money manipulation and the dangers of it and the risk of criminals attacking them.”
“A real red flag is if kids have spent money on new technology, sports equipment or clothing that you know they can’t afford, something like that should be a red flag for parents,” he said.
The Federation conducted an investigation that found:
- 36% of 18-24 year olds say they are likely to enter or transfer money on someone else’s behalf using their own bank account in exchange for keeping some of the money.
- More than a quarter of 18-24 year olds say they know someone who was approached to act like a money mule.
- 44% of those surveyed had never heard of the term money mule.
- Only 18% of the parents of teens surveyed said they had discussed the issue of money mules and the risks with their teens.
Olivia Buckley said that young people who are tempted to get involved to earn money should remember: “If you are muling, you are involved in money laundering and if you are involved in money laundering you are involved in criminality.”
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