CNext Blog

Don't Get Played: Watch Out for Money Mule Scams

Scammers are smooth. They act like they’re offering you a job, giving you prize money, or even falling in love online. But don’t get it twisted — it’s a setup. Their goal? To get you to move stolen money for them, using your name and your bank account. That makes you the middleman — or what’s known as a money mule.

Here’s how the play goes: Someone sends you a check and tells you to send part of the money to someone else — maybe by wiring it, using a money app, or buying gift cards. It might feel legit at first, especially when the check clears in your account. But later, when the bank figures out the check was fake, you’re on the hook for the full amount. That’s money you never really had — and money you might owe, even after you’ve already sent it off. Now your account’s overdrawn, and you’re stuck in the fallout.

Don’t get played like that.

Here’s how to stay smart:

·         Never use your bank account to transfer money for someone else — even if it sounds like a legit “work-from-home” gig.

·         Don’t open new bank accounts for a so-called employer.

·         If you “win” something and they want you to send money to claim the prize, it’s a scam.

·         No matter how convincing someone seems online — even if they say they love you — don’t send them money or help them move it.

Think something’s off? Here’s what to do:

·         Cut off communication immediately.

·         Tell your bank right away.

·         Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Remember: scammers are experts at playing people. They’ll tell you all the right things and try to earn your trust, but at the end of the day, they’re using you to clean dirty money. And if you help — even without realizing it — you could face serious legal consequences.

Don’t let them pull you into their game. Stay alert, protect your money, and protect yourself.