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disb

Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

CONSUMER ALERT: Beware of Money Mule Scams

What Are Money Mule Scams?
The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking wants residents to beware of money mule scams. A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else, often unknowingly. Scammers may recruit victims by pretending to offer a legitimate job, relationship, or investment opportunity, and then ask them to send or receive money. This illegal activity can make you a target for law enforcement, even if you didn’t realize you were involved in a crime.

How Are Money Mule Scams Perpetrated?
Scammers often reach out through:

  • Job offers: You might receive an unsolicited job offer that involves “processing payments” or “transferring funds” as part of your tasks.
  • Online dating or social media relationships: A scammer builds trust in an online relationship and then asks you to move money for them, either by receiving funds and forwarding them to someone else or using your own account.
  • Get-rich-quick schemes or investments: Scammers promise easy profits, asking you to transfer or receive money as part of the “investment.”

Once you receive the money, scammers may instruct you to wire the funds to another account, send them via cryptocurrency, or purchase gift cards and send the card details. Unknowingly moving these funds makes you a money mule.

How to Avoid Money Mule Scams
1. Be cautious of unsolicited job offers that involve transferring money. Legitimate companies will never ask you to use your own bank account to move funds.
2. Verify online relationships—be skeptical if someone you haven’t met in person asks for your financial help or requests that you handle money.
3. Watch out for get-rich-quick schemes that seem too good to be true. Scammers may use promises of large profits to trick you into laundering money.
4. Do not provide your bank account details or personal information to anyone you don't know or trust.
5. Trust your instincts. If something seems suspicious or involves moving money between accounts, pause and investigate before taking any action.
 
What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted
1. Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
2. Don’t move any more money. If you’ve already received funds, do not forward them or spend them.
3. Contact your bank. Let them know what has happened to ensure your account is protected.

Report Fraud
If you believe you are being solicited as a money mule, contact the DISB Enforcement and Consumer Protection Division at 202.727.8000. You may also contact the FBI Washington Field Office at 202.278.2000, or the Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at 202.727.4159 or [email protected]. Additionally, you may report the activity to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov or calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.