Money muling: How falling for this scam can land you in jail

It's not easy being a university student. Unless you have some well-off relatives, you probably don’t have much money, which means tuna and rice are on the menu most nights. So, if the commission payment from a new job prospect promises to fund your whole semester’s tuition, you’d accept it, right? Unfortunately, though these offers might seem attractive to many domestic and international students, they come with some serious (and potentially criminal) strings attached. Welcome to the world of money muling scams.

A money mule isn’t a working horse stacked with wads of cash, though it’s easy to see where the similarities lie. Money mules receive a commission fee for transporting illegally obtained funds to separate accounts. 

For many financially vulnerable uni students, two-minute noodles and canned tuna are the norm. So finding a part-time job that fits in with their studies is worth its weight in gold. Job adverts from money mule ‘recruiters’ lure them in and promise flexible working hours and minimal labour in exchange for a lump sum payment. At many universities, international students pay for their tuition upfront. A job that pays for their whole semester, or even more, is understandably enticing. 

When describing the ‘position’, recruiters will use expressions like ‘same day cash’ and ‘legit, easy money’. They’ll usually state they’re acting on behalf of an overseas organisation and are looking for ‘money transfer’ agents or representatives. They won't specify any duties the candidate is expected to perform except transferring money.

They’ll make contact via online job forums, emails, social media, and in person, usually on the street. The selling point is that no experience is needed. Just access to a mobile phone or computer and an Australian bank account to receive and transfer the funds. Like most scam emails, it’s likely that the fake job offer will be laden with spelling and grammatical errors.

Money mule solicitations can also camouflage as flexible ‘work from home’ positions. They target job seekers searching for the convenience of this arrangement, not just students and young people. These ‘offers’ can be harder to spot.

Recruiters might link to a fake website or even one that belongs to another company. They might also post on job seeker websites like Seek or Indeed, and work to correct any spelling or grammatical mistakes so they can bypass the spam filter.  

In a recent press release, AFP Detective Superintendent Tim Stainton urged students to do their due diligence by ensuring the business has legitimate contact details and a real online presence before accepting any job offer, confirming their address, phone number, email address and website are legitimate, and checking if the organisation is registered with ASIC.

Once recruited as a money mule, the third party will transfer the stolen funds, which are usually obtained through phishing, hacking, and online fraud. Once the mule receives the stolen funds, they’ll transfer it to the criminal’s designated account, minus their ‘commission payment’. 

While cybercriminals pitching the ‘role’ might make it seem low-risk high-reward, money muling is anything but. If you’re a money mule, unknowingly or not, you can still be charged, arrested, and sent to jail for money laundering. Even if you’re not involved in the crimes that help generate the money, you’re an accomplice in keeping criminal syndicates anonymous.

Be wary of people you don’t know offering quick, easy money for limited work. If you get a job offer immediately after receiving an email from someone you don’t know, it could be a solicitation for money muling. 

Scammers will do everything in their power to cast as wide a net as possible. Sending emails to millions of people hoping for someone to reply is a common practice. If something feels off, do not reply or click on any included links. If you receive an offer in person, decline it and report it to the police. 

Always practice safe internet etiquette. Refrain from sharing personal or banking information with anyone you don’t know. If you think you may have fallen victim to a money muling scheme, contact your bank and stop transferring immediately.