What is a money mule? How criminals move stolen money through ordinary accounts
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
A money mule is someone who lets their bank account be used to receive and pass on money that came from crime. Criminals use mules to hide where stolen money came from, and the mule can face serious legal consequences even if they did not know the full story.
How people get drawn in
- They see an offer of easy money, often on social media or in a fake job advert.
- They are asked to receive a payment into their account.
- They are told to send most of it on, keeping a small cut.
- The money turns out to be stolen, and their account is now part of the chain.
Warning signs
Be wary of any job or offer that asks you to receive and forward money, use your account for someone else, or buy crypto or gift cards with money sent to you. Genuine employers never ask staff to move money through their own accounts.
Why platforms watch for it
Banks and payment platforms use transaction monitoring to spot money coming in and going straight out, and may freeze accounts and report them. In the UK, money muling can lead to a closed account, difficulty opening new ones and criminal charges.
Where SendPay fits
Every SendPay platform includes customer identity verification at sign-up, powered by licensed partners. Your own anti-money-laundering policies and monitoring remain your responsibility, and SendPay tells you in writing what applies before you pay.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.