FBI warns of COVID-19 mule scams

(KYMA, KECY)-The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns the public about potential fraud schemes related to COVID-19, particularly in money mule schemes.

Fraudsters continue to take advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money, access personal information, financial information, and use you as a mule.

The FBI says when criminals obtain money illegally, they have to find a way to move and hide the illicit funds. They scam other people, known as money mules, into moving this illicit money for them either through funds transfers, physical movement of cash, or through other methods.

Money mules are often targeted through online job schemes or dating websites and apps.

As a money mule, you allow others to use your bank account or conduct financial transactions on behalf of others. The FBI says not only does it jeopardize your financial security and compromises your personally identifiable information, but it s also a crime.

Protect yourself by refusing to send or receive money on behalf of individuals and businesses for which you are not personally and professionally responsible. The FBI advises you to be on the lookout for the following:

Work-from-home schemes

Watch out for online job postings and emails from individuals promising you easy money for little to no effort. Common red flags that you may be acting as a money mule include:

• The “employer” you communicate with uses web-based services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, etc.
• You are asked to receive funds in your personal bank account and then “process” or “transfer” funds via wire transfer, ACH, mail, or money service businesses, such as Western Union or MoneyGram
• You are asked to open bank accounts in your name for a business
• You are told to keep a portion of the money you transfer

Individuals claiming to be located overseas asking you to send or receive money on their behalf

Watch out for emails, private messages, and phone calls from individuals you do not know who claim to be located abroad and in need of your financial support. Criminals are trying to gain access to U.S. bank accounts in order to move fraud proceeds from you and other victims to their bank accounts. Common fictitious scenarios include:

• Individuals claiming to be U.S. service members stationed overseas asking you to send or receive money on behalf of themselves or a loved one battling COVID-19
• Individuals claiming to be U.S. citizens working abroad asking you to send or receive money on behalf of themselves or a loved one battling COVID-19
• Individuals claiming to be U.S. citizens quarantined abroad asking you to send or receive money on behalf of themselves or a loved one battling COVID-19
• Individuals claiming to be in the medical equipment business asking you to send or receive money on their behalf
• Individuals affiliated with a charitable organization asking you to send or receive money on their behalf

If you believe you, or someone you know, has been solicited to be a money mule, please contact your local FBI field office. To report suspicious activity, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.