Money Muling

The act of transferring illegally obtained money on behalf of another person, typically by receiving funds into one's own bank account and then forwarding them, often by wire transfer or in cryptocurrency, to a third party in exchange for a fee or commission, a role increasingly recognized by law enforcement and financial institutions as a distinct entry point through which criminal proceeds obtained through fraud, romance scams or other cybercrime are laundered into the legitimate financial system. Europol and national police forces, including the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, have run public awareness campaigns targeting money muling specifically because a substantial share of money mules, particularly younger recruits solicited through social media job offers, are documented as unaware or only partially aware that the funds they are moving are criminal proceeds, distinguishing the role from a knowing participant in the underlying money laundering scheme, though a money mule can still be criminally prosecuted regardless of their claimed awareness.