Protect Yourself: Don’t Be a Mule
Money mules are people who receive and transfer money obtained from victims of fraud and are recruited through several methods:
- Work-from-Home Scams: A job posting offers easy money for reshipping packages, buying gift cards or Postal Money Orders, or transferring money, which can be done at home.
- Confidence Scams: A person or business you don’t know offers you a cut/commission if you transfer money for them.
- Lottery Scams: A person informs you that you need to transfer or accept money in order to collect a prize/winnings.
- Romance Scams: A person you’ve met online or on an app who says they’re romantically interested in you asks you to transfer money and/or packages.
Transferring money/valuables on behalf of others only benefits criminals, and may lead to serious consequences for you.
PROTECT YOURSELF:
- Don’t engage in financial transactions with strangers.
- Don’t take a job that promises easy money and involves sending or receiving money or packages.
- Check any work-from-home opportunity or money transferring offer with a trusted family member or friend. You can also contact your Better Business Bureau chapter or access your state’s corporation directory to help verify if the business is legitimate.
- Report money mule activity/scams as soon as possible.
For more information, or to report a money mule scam, visit www.uspis.gov/money-mule or call 1-877-876-2455.
