Money muling attempt & The story of Maya
I was one of the people who get targeted
through my LinkedIn profile. The scammer claimed that he is the Chief Risk
Officer of one of the very known reputed banks and requested me to be his
foreign partner to move an amount of $15,500,000.00.
He
claimed that the beneficiary for this amount was among the dead victims in the
April 2011 Super Tornado Outbreak in the USA and died without leaving a will.
He
requested my co-operation to present me as one to benefit from his fund at his
death since I have the same name and the bank will pay the fund to me. He
guaranteed that this process would be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that would legally protect me from any breach of Law. You are probably asking
what is it for me? If I agreed to partner with him on this project, he will
give me 50% of the total funds.
He
added that he would respectfully request me to keep the contents of this mail “CONFIDENTIAL
“saying that he contacted me privately and as such, no one should be aware of
this communication.
The
email ended ensuring one more time that if I do not find an interest in this
project to discard the mail and forget that he ever contacted me.
This email made me write this article today highlighting the risk of falling into money mule scam. Here is what you need to know about money mule scam.
· What is a money mule
scam?
Scammers
may try to use you to move stolen money. If you help them, you could be what
law enforcement calls a money mule.
· What happens next?
If you deposit the
scammer’s check, it may clear but then later turn out to be a fake check. The bank will want you to repay it. If you give the
scammer your account information, they may misuse it. You could even get into
legal trouble for helping a scammer move stolen money.
·
How can you avoid money mule scams?
Criminals are good at making up reasons to help them move money.
Do not do it.
- Do
not accept a job that asks you to transfer money. They
may tell you to send money to a “client” or “supplier.” Say no.
- Never
send money or account information to collect a prize, inheritance, or
agree to be a foreign partner. That’s always a
scam, and they might be trying to get you to move stolen money.
- Do not send money back to an online love interest who’s sent you money. This is also another a way to get you to move stolen money.
The
key is to recognize the telltale signs, in which scammers ask you for money,
request that you receive or send wires or bank transfers or ask for your
financial information. And when in doubt, remember to contact the FTC, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or your state attorney
general’s office.
Stay alert, and you will never be an easy target!
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