Unfortunately, each of us will have heard of financial scams. Many have also personally encountered calls from “bankers,” cryptocurrency traders, or fake cops, not to mention the fake social media activities of Raymond Paul, Renard Cowper, and even the President. This requires a lot of attention, as well as warning family members who are less aware of today’s threats.
Data from the Financial Industry Association shows that in 2022, in total, more than 12 million euros were stolen from Latvian citizens by various methods. Fraudsters “extort” money from citizens in various ways: both by calling and posing as employees of banks or security institutions, and by imitating the connections of postmen and sending SMS and emails, as well as fake investment platforms, inviting them to make huge profits. In the fight against fraud, not only law enforcement agencies are improving, but also scammers, who are very creative and constantly looking for new ways to access other people’s money.
Less known is the concept of “money mule”, that is, a person with the help of whom illegally obtained money is transferred to the accounts of criminals or cash in their pockets. “Money Mule” operates within a criminal group. Receives money from a third person, which is transferred electronically or delivered in cash to another person, receiving compensation (commission) for this action. Scammers use a “money mule” to hide other crimes, such as online scams or other forms of embezzlement.
Practice shows that the “money mule” is often young people, but immigrants, the unemployed and other people in financial difficulty are also involved in the programs. Criminals recruit “money mules” by various methods: in person, through advertisements, emails, social networks and also using group messaging apps (e.g. “Telegram”, “WhatsApp”). Attractive offers of easy money are made, often without actually explaining to the person involved what is expected of them. The recruitment of “money mules” among friends is also common, where someone who has already been recruited tries to involve other friends and acquaintances in the matter, promising easy earnings or telling fictitious situations with problems in which it is necessary to settle, transfer money or withdraw money in cash from an ATM. Usually we are talking about amounts from 3,000 to 10,000 euros, which must be received urgently into the account and transferred promptly for a prize of between 50 and 350 euros.
Sometimes it seems: what’s special there? I will withdraw foreign money from the account to my card or transfer it further. The State Police warns that criminal liability threatens the following actions:
– if a person accepts the offer to lend his bank card to someone for one or more days, criminal liability is provided for according to the characteristics of the crime provided for in the first part of article 1931 of the Criminal Code (distribution of such data which makes possible abusive use of a means of payment);
– if someone provides false information to the bank, criminal liability is foreseen according to the characteristics of the crime envisaged by the first part of article 1951 of the criminal code (failure to provide information or knowingly false indication of information on incoming funds into the account);
– if a person accepts an offer to receive fraudulent funds into his bank account and transfer them to another bank account as compensation or to withdraw them in cash from an ATM and return them with or without compensation, criminal liability is expected under of the art. crime provided for by the second part of article 195 of the Criminal Code (legalization of criminally obtained financial assets in a group of people by agreement) signs;
– if a person accepts an offer to search for and involve other “money mules”, withdraw money with foreign bank cards at ATMs, transfer cash to other people, criminal liability is expected according to the crime provided for in the third part of the article 195 of the Criminal Law (legalization of financial assets obtained criminally and organized in the group) for signs.
If someone becomes a “money mule,” they face more than just criminal liability. If you are a “money mule”, you may not be able to receive financial services, for example the bank may close your account or refuse to cooperate in providing other financial services. A “money mule’s” career opportunities can also be significantly affected, as an employer may not want to work with a person who has already committed a crime.
Is it really worth ruining the rest of your life for a quick and easy profit? Be safe and don’t be a “money mule”!
2023-12-27 13:18:46
#money #mule