Been asked to receive money and send it on to someone else? Wondered why Marty Byrde in Ozark buys cash-intensive businesses?

These are red flags of money mule activities, a key strategy criminals use in money laundering for scams and other serious crimes.

What is a money mule?

Part of popular culture through Netflix shows like Ozark and Narcos, money mules are people who transfer money, either knowingly or unwittingly, for other people.  Money mules are committing a crime and, if convicted, can face very serious criminal penalties.

Criminals use mules and their accounts to launder money obtained from their criminal activities.

Initially, the accounts set up may be used for legitimate purposes until one day they start to be used to facilitate crime.

Money is often moved overseas or to unregulated cryptocurrency platforms, reflecting the speed and sophistication of these organised criminals.

The “mule” may receive a commission for allowing their account to be used by the criminal.

Sometimes mules can be scam victims or vulnerable people who are tricked or coerced into allowing their accounts to be used by criminal groups.

How do people become money mules?

Criminals target people on social media, messaging platforms, via community groups and social settings to open, rent or buy a bank account or manipulate them into being a money mule.

It’s important to remember it’s illegal to buy, sell or rent a bank account. You should be suspicious of anyon

e asking you to receive money into your account and on send it to someone else for them.

Police anticipate criminal networks will use the start of the new university year to target foreign students through online job ads offering quick and easy money for tasks that seem legitimate but are ultimately illegal.

Are money mules linked to particular scams?

NAB Executive Group Investigations Chris Sheehan, a former Australian Federal Police executive, said three scams were commonly linked to money mules:

• Employment scams
• Investment scams
• Romance scams

“The person might think they’re participating in a job, taking up an investment opportunity or helping a partner or friend they met online,” Mr Sheehan said.

Learn more about these types of scams in this explainer ‘NAB reveals five scams to watch in 2025’ 

Who do criminals target when they’re looking for money mules?

In the Netflix series Ozark, Jason Bateman’s character Marty Byrde, a financial advisor in Chicago, moves his family to the remote mountain region of the same name  to launder drug money for a Mexican drug cartel.

But Netflix isn’t real life and anyone can be targeted to be a money mule.

People experiencing vulnerability and international students are often key targets for criminals, according to Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator AUSTRAC.

It issued guidance to government agencies and financial service providers in 2024 to help tackle the problem.

What are some of the red flags linked to money mules?

• Any offer of a commission for transferring funds through your own account
• Unexpected job or investment opportunities
• Job or investment opportunities that start via social media platforms or messaging apps
• Promises or claims of high returns or easy money with little or no experience required. Eg liking social media posts or reviewing products
• Being paid to approach and recruit students on a university campus for a job
• Being asked to ‘invest’ your money as part of a job and promises you’ll get it and more back once you start work
• Being asked to pay for additional job training, equipment, or registration fees via bank transfer or cryptocurrency.

Are money mules only linked to scams?

Money mules are used in many crimes, including drug trafficking and child exploitation.

Mules may have no idea where the illicit funds flowing through their account are coming from. It generally starts with a person that criminals have ruthlessly exploited.

What is NAB doing to combat money mule activity?

When notified about a mule account, NAB immediately investigates and takes action to stop the muling activity.

We report mule accounts in line with our financial crime obligations and invest in robust detection and prevention systems to help protect customers.

Mr Sheehan said banks, including NAB, were supporting the AFP’s campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

Where do money mules operate?

Money mules are a global challenge and a focus for organisations like the FBI.

There were nearly two million money mule accounts from 257 financial institutions in 21 countries reported to BioCatch in 2024, according to a recent report.

NAB uses BioCatch’s behavioural biometrics technology in the NAB App and Internet Banking. It flags customer behaviour that appears out of character, allowing the bank to see, stop and hold potential fraud and scams in real time.

What should I do if I think a job or investment opportunity seems off? Or if a romantic partner or friend I met online is asking me to receive and send money?

• Stop all communication with the person
• Contact your bank if you received or transferred money or suspect unusual account activity
• Report the matter to the AFP via www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/report, and the platform or organisation where the contact originated
• If you’re a student, talk to your university’s student services team.