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Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2022
Cybercrime-13

Don’t be used – officers are warning people of the dangers involved in helping organised criminals to launder their dirty money.

In a practice known as ‘money mules’ vulnerable people are often targeted through social media, apps and gaming and persuaded to transfer criminal cash through their own bank accounts.

This month officers from North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) have joined forces with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to build a stronger awareness of money muling and educate people around the consequences of getting involved in this type of organised crime – all as part of a national awareness period.

So far, our officers and staff have been speaking to university and college students, targeting suspects, gathering intelligence and working with partners and banks to strengthen our approach to tackling money mules and the wider impact of organised crime.

The way the way money muling works is that fraudsters ask you to receive money into your bank account and then transfer it into another account and pay you by letting you keep a small sum for yourself.  

If you let this happen, you’re a money mule - you’re involved in money laundering and that is a criminal offence.

Detective Sergeant Paddy O’Keefe, one of NEROCU’s Regional Economic Crime leads, said it is vital forces continue to work with partners to raise awareness and disrupt the wide impact money laundering can have on organised crime.

He said: “Most people think that being a money mule is quick and easy money and a victimless crime – but you couldn’t be more wrong.

“By helping organised criminals launder their money, you’re contributing to child and sex trafficking, supplying and distributing drugs, supporting modern day slavery and protecting those who run these operations.

“Criminals manipulate vulnerable people into helping them with the promise of easy money and while your part may seem small to you, but without money mules, these criminal enterprises fall.”

Det Sgt O’Keefe added: “Mules will usually be unaware of where the money comes from and we often find they are also unaware that what they have been doing is against the law in the first place.

“We’re asking people to think about what someone is asking you to do – once you start you and your loved ones could be threatened, or even physically attacked if you don’t continue to let your account be used by criminals.

“Across the region we are working hard to tackle serious ad organised crime in all its forms under the banner of Operation Sentinel. We would urge anyone who is asked to become a money mule to seriously think about your actions. Help us to prevent these criminals from continuing their harmful, illegal activities.”

Tell-tale signs that someone might be involved could be them suddenly having extra cash, buying expensive new clothes or top-of-the-range mobile phones and gadgets with very little explanation as to how they got the money. They may also become more secretive, withdrawn or appear stressed.

Det Sgt O’Keefe continued: “When someone is caught, their bank account will be closed and they will have problems getting student loans, mortgages, mobile phone contracts and credit in the future. They could lose their job, relationships and face arrest for money laundering which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.”

Not knowing that it’s a crime is no excuse, and you could still be prosecuted so #Don'tBeUsed

To learn more visit https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/moneymuling

If you are worried that someone close to you might be caught up in money muling, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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