Gardaí are warning young people that ignorance is no excuse when it comes to working as a money mule for criminals.
The warning comes as part of gardaí's #SafeAtCollege campaign and in partnership with the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland. It follows a number of incidents of students being used as money mules in Ireland.
A money mule is a person who allows their account to be used for the transfer of other’s stolen or illegal money. They may or may not be aware of the crime, however, they are complicit if they recklessly allow their account to be used to launder the proceeds of criminality, gardaí warned.
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Those aged 18-24, and those over 55 years of age are the most commonly targeted age groups by organised crime gangs to act as money mules.
Vulnerable people such as those who are new to the country, students, people who are unemployed or under financial pressure are also likely to be targeted. Those who purchase illegal drugs may be offered to pay off their drug debt by becoming a money mule.
Gardaí have warned that ignorance is no excuse, and the penalties include a prison sentence of up to 14 years, a criminal conviction with a lifetime criminal record, extradition to the country where the predicate crime occurred, and not being permitted to open another bank account.
Young people are asked to heed warning signs, including unsolicited approaches at college.
"For instance, an approach via a social media platform or in-person, usually in a social setting or at college, with an offer to make easy money. The individual who makes the approach only uses a social media handle and will not provide information to identify themselves. The person approached is then requested to provide all details relating to their account, including online security access codes.
"There can also be advertisements for jobs on online platforms offering seemingly easy or quick money that are in fact a recruitment front for money mules.
"Anyone who thinks they are being approached to become a money mule should refuse to provide their bank details and to contact An Garda Síochána. If an account has already been compromised, the account holder should contact their bank and An Garda Síochána."
Earlier this month, An Garda Síochána confirmed that over 830 money mules had been identified in Ireland in the past number of years.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau estimate that there are at least 4,000 money mules linked to their investigations who have used Irish addresses. The vast majority are young people in all corners of Ireland.
Speaking today, Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) said: "Those who agree to allow their bank account to be used for the transfer of illegally obtained money may not necessarily realise that they are enabling very dangerous international criminal organisations and are involving themselves with these criminals.
"It seems quite simple and at the same time quite lucrative, but the reality is that those who allow their bank account to be used are taking a huge personal risk. More than that, they are in essence assisting ruthless criminals involved in human trafficking, people smuggling, terrorism, and even wars.
"An Garda Síochána is sending this warning because it isn’t the hardened criminals face on CCTV at an ATM. It isn’t their phone number or bank account details linked to the transfer of illegal gains – it’s those of the money mule – if an offer sounds too good to be true it probably is. There is no easy money to be made”
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