Over 700 young people have been identified as money mules by Gardaí in the last year.
Organised crime gangs are targeting people on social media and in school or college.
Don’t be a Money Mule!
A money mule is someone who allows others to use their bank accounts. They are the recipient and/or disburser of fraudulent or illegally obtained funds.
Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan explains pic.twitter.com/UqypfyL9Bh— Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 12, 2021
The average age of a money mule in Ireland is just 19
Criminals convince their target to hand over their bank details before lodging money to be withdrawn or transferred abroad.
Detective Superintendent Mick Cryan explains how people become money mules.
"In a small amount of cases they're paying off drug debts, or are forced, intimidated or coerced."
"But in most of them they're recruited on social media."
"They believe that it's easy money, it's advertised [as a way to] make money easy."
In just one ongoing Garda investigation, 32 money mules have been arrested, including a 15 year old girl.
Detective Chief Superintendent. Pat Lordan says allowing yourself to be used as a money mule can ruin your life.
"If you get arrested and convicted for money laundering and terrorist financing, for an amount of two, or three or five thousand going through your account, you'll have great difficulty for the rest of your life."
Gardaí are asking parents to educate their children on the serious consequences of allowing someone else to use their bank account.
