Northern Territory Police report an increase in Northern Territory residents being deceived into being ‘money mules’

A money mule is a person used to enable the transfer of funds between a victim and a scam offender, who is usually located internationally. In the majority of the time, the money is from proceeds of online crime.

“A recent report to police involved a woman from Darwin accepting an online job offer that at first appeared legitimate,” Detective Sergeant Craig Windebank said.

“The job involved the woman receiving sums of money and transferring it into offshore bank accounts.

“These scams are sophisticated in nature and have required victims to participate in telephone job applications and to complete detailed contracts of employment.

“People should be very wary of any job offers that requires them to receive money into their own bank accounts and then transfer into other accounts outside Australia. 

“People that do engage in money transfers like this are enabling online crime, breaking the law and could risk criminal prosecution.”

Northern Territory Police would urge anyone asked to transfer suspicious funds on behalf of another person, particularly internationally to report the matter to Police through the ACORN website www.acorn.gov.au or by calling 131 444.